in  ^"iri8  orders  is  always  a  feature  of  our  ousltress. 
Catalogue*  are  nf.nl  free.  Any  Play,  Dialogue  Book, 
speaker,  Guide  801,  1  Beards — iti  fact  auy- 

•iii  be  VMES  PUB.  CO., 'Clyde,  Ohio. 


AMES' SERIES  OF 
DARD  AND  MINOR  DRAMA. 

No.  310. 


Claim  Ninety-six. 


."BOIJDKH   DRAMA. 


WITH  CAST  OF  CHARACTERS,    ENTRANCES  AlV 
KXITS.  RELATIVE  I'DSITK/NS  OF  TFIF.   PERFORMERS 
oN  THKSTAfiK.  DESi  UIPTloX  OF  < 'OSTUMES  AND 
THE  WHOF.E  OF  THE  STAGE  HI  CARE- 

FULLY. MARKEh     FROM.   THE     MOST     AP- 
1MIOVE!)  ACTING  COPY. 


This  Book  will  not  be  exchanged. 


PRICE  25  CENTS. 


AMES'  PUBLISHING  CO 

W.  H.  4MES,  Proprietor, 

CLYDE.  OHIO. 


a 


No  goods   sent   C.    O.    1).          Money    MUST   accompany    all    orders. 


'  Edition  of  Plays. 


Fifteen  cents  unless  otherrrise  marked. 


NO. 

2M 
1«4 

135 
318 
350 
113 
S2rt 
321 
272 
IftO 
2RS 
310 
284 

M 

DRAMAS 

Arthur  Eustace,  25c 
After  Ten  Y- 

10 
7 
!•> 

F. 

3 
5 

3 

4 

4 
4 
3 
3 

3 

NO. 

103 
34 
229 

112 
2W 

40ft 

Miriam's  Crime 

M. 

5 

F. 

:t 

F, 

r, 
1 

I 

^ 

K 

•  ,IH  Rouifli 
M»Uiiteb:tnl«.   Th- 

Anld  Robin  GI-H  v. 
Adventurers.  The 
•e  of  Love             

Mrs.  Wi;i-,'  Wilt 
!  Paiitain.  The  25<- 
>fv  P:,rd,  3Sc 

BUI  Detrick                 
Brao,  the  Poor  House  Oirl 
Broken  Links 

« 

..4 

8 

Nc\r  York  Book  A 
.Not  Such  a  Fool  ;i 

Conn  :  or  Love's  Victory.... 
Cleat-ill?  the  Mi<Ms 

.9 

r> 

Noel  Person's  Oath  
On  th  Bound  

Claim  Nliietv-slx  (M)    ' 
Commercial  Drummer,  The  S 

81 

Old  Pliil'v  Blrthdnv  

« 

194 

'  3 
9 

ISfi 
330 

387 
417 


4in 

33=, 


251 


IRENE  DWEN  ANDREWS 


unnen  Mann 

Tosh  Winchester. 

Joe,  the  W:iif,  2oc 5 

Kathleen  MM  von reen. .".......  12 

Lights  and  Shadows  of  the 

Great  Rebellion,  '25c 1f>    5 

L»idv  of  Lyons 12    5 

Lady  Andley's  Secret ft     4 

Lee-a1  Holiday  .          5     3 

T.itt.le  rjoldio      f  ..V      - 

Little  Heroin--         .      .  . 
Little  Wife.  The.. 

Life's  R.even? e  A ..11     4 

Lost  in  London....  fl     4 

MHiid'sP^ril  5     3 

M»chnnir's  Reprieve,  Tlie...8     3 

Miller's  Danihter.  i'ic 7     R 

Mldniirht  Mistake 6     - 

Millie,  the  Quadroon. 6    6 


TEMPERANCE  PLAYS 

'•rift 1 

301      Amonjr  the  Moonshiner- 


.  nut  T)i>>nh'«  Ple.lee « 

054     f)^t:  the  Miner's  Diiiiiihter  0 

TiinUard,  The 13 

185     T)rnnHard's  Warning •  fi 

180  r»vnnkard's'Dooin 

181  Fifteen  Years  of  a  Drnnk- 
:,r,lV  Life 

1«3     Fruits  of  the  Wine  Cni 
04    Lost « 


•  Claim  Ninety-Six.4> 

A  BORDER  DRAMA 

IN  FIVE  ACTS, 


—  BT- 


LBD  Ware, 


TO   WHICH    IP    ADDBD 

A  PKs.  I.IPTION  OF  THE  COSTUMES—  CAST  OF  THE  CHARACTERS— 

KVi'RANCES  AND  EXITS— RELATIVE  POSITIONS  OF  TUB 

PERFORMERS  OX  THE  STAGE,  AND  THE  WHOLE 

OF  THE  STAGE  BUSINESS. 


accnrdnm  to  the  act  of  Congrett  in  tlie  near  1393,  by 

AMES"  PUBLISHING  CO., 
in  the  ojKcK  oj  tht  Librarian  of  Centre**  at    Wcuitingto*. 


--CLYDE.    OHIO: 


AM.LS    PUiJLiSHl^U  CO 


QLA  I M 

OAST  Of  CHARACTERS. 

JEKKT  MACK _ _ 

OPT  LKSTKR ~ — _ -~_._Jf««Ar'« 

CHAKLKT  GREY .^. _^. _ - _ - Owner  of  Claim 

ARTHUR  BRANDON..,.,  ...„«......_ .. '  b<mk> r 

MAJOR  DOLITTLB _ „......._ „ „ «_ X  tpecnl<itoi 

PETERSON „ __ _ ™. A  Yankee 

SACBAUESTO  JOE ._......... „ „ -.——A  re/<c  o//«v  ?«n«  r/aj/* 

EBOJTT „ .......„„„......_. _..„.. _ ~.-A  colored  boot  bind; 

NELL,  (the  Little  Nugget). All  purr  ,„>!•! 

BILL .. „.. „..--,  ~ ~. ........„__. Mack' i  in/' 

Mis.  BRANDON ... — _...„.. — Brandon '•»/•!>'•• 

JKNNIE  LESTKI....... „ _ Uvy'»  titter 

B«aai»ft» 
OKFICKM  . 

"SYNOPSIS  JOF^JE  VENTS. 

ACT  I.    The  Land  of  Gold. 

5o*ru  /-^TooiBgtone,    a   mining   town    in .  California.    Jerry  Mack's  saloon.    Guy 
Lester,  king  of  counterfeiters.    Nell.    The  toast.    Claim  Ninety-Six.    The  inennest 
man.    A  plan  te  steal  Charley  Gr«y>  dust.    Arrival  of  Major  Dolittle.  from   KIMI 
tuck.    Nell  and  the  M'uor.    A  love  .^ene,  which  ends  in  ''g\n  and  pepperminr." 

Scrne  //.—Charley  Grey  and  Mack.  Ebony,  the  boot  black.  Ebouy's  advice.  Guy 
Letter,  the  ectoroon.  Toonaitone  quiet.  "Slayex,  runaway  nijrgers."  Ebony  keep< 
kis  eveti  open. 

Scene  ///.— Sacramento  Joe  and  Nell.  Nell's  history.  The  little  black  book. 
Nell  locks  Sacramento  Joe  in  the  cellar.  Bell  und  Mack.  Guy  discovers  Mack'n 
•ecret.  "Ni»r«rwhipj»er.  slare  driver."  Tfap  quarrel.  Sacramento  Jo*.  "Dom'tpull 
boys,  I've  got  the  drop  on  ve.  and  I  -lon't  give  n  <MIR«." 

ACT  II.    Home  of  Bell  Mack. 

Kern*  /. — Nell?  adrice.  Ehony  rell"  Nell  »f  the  nrd  to  he  made  on  Charley  Orey'l 
rahin.  "Nell  will  be  on  deck  to-night."  "I  polly.  dis  chile  will  be  dar'  too." 

Seene  H. — Mack's  bad  lock.  A  compact  of  crime  sealed.  Xell  on  the  war-path. 
EI  ony's  fright.  "Now  I — I — lay  me  down." 

Scent  III. — Cnarley  Grey's  cabin.  Mack  and  Guy  s<-arehinjr  for  the  gold  -lust. 
Timely  arriTal  of  Nell  and  Ebony.  "Throw  up  your  hands  or  you  are  dead  men." 
E.^cape  of  the  robbers.  Sacramento  Joe,  "I  don't  c«  rf  »  cu««." 

ACT  III.— Arthur  Brandon' K  Home. 

Scent  I. — The  lost  child.    A  living  trouble.     Bessie  (irey  deposits  the  gold  dnsf  • 
Mr.  Brandon's  safe.    Guy  Lester  interviews  Mr.  Brandon'  in  regards  to  the  Qrey'i 
gold. 

Sent*  71. — Peterson,  the  apple  «?»  man  from  Vermont,  in  search  of  a  meal.  Ebony 
«nd  Peterson.  Snnbbed  by  Be<sie.  "Squashed,  tetotally  wjuashed." 

Sc«tte  ///.—Mack .and  Ouy  congratulate  themselves  on  their  escaping  Nell's  Vmll'-i. 
"Charley  Grey's  wife  will  run  Toomstone."    Peterson  and  hi?  fonrbarreLs  of  up? 
"Polly  At>n  SpriitRins."    Peterson  proposes  to  Xell.    The  game  of  eardr,  Bessie  (ir-\ 
interrupts  the  gaiiie.    Th*  way  to  Vermont.    The  wife  beater.    Mack  faces  Nell's  rifle 
the  second  time. 

Scene  IV.— Peterson,  "a  thin  pair  of  pants  and  a  light  keart"    Murder  of  Sacra- 
mento Joe.    Nell  on 'the  war-path. 
Scene  V. — The  safe  robbery  and  mnrder  of   Mrs.   Brandon.     Nell  arrives  on  the 


ACT  IV.—  Gold  Dust  Saloon. 

Soenrl.—  Ebony  and  Nell.  Arrest  of  Xell  for  the  murder  of  Mrs.  Brandon.  T» 
not  iruilty." 

Seen*  11.  —  Major  Dolittle  and  Ebony.  Jennie,  the  octoroon,  a  runaway  slave, 
meet-  her  former  master.  The  slave  brand.  "I  could  kill  you." 

&><•»«•  III.—  Bell's  grief  at  the  arrest  of  Nell  ;  Ebony's  attempt  to  comfort  her.  "I 
golly,  ilis  chile'?  eves  am  leakin'." 

ACT  V.-Street. 

Scent  /.—Mack  and  Guy  break  open  the  jail  and  escape  with  Nell,  the  prisoner, 
to  the  mountain.  Major  Dolittle  and  Ebony  arrange  a  plan  to  rescue  Nell.  Guy'.< 
secret  discovered. 

Scene  //.—Jennie  tells  Guy  of  her  meeting  Major  Dolittle,  "that  cursed  mark.  " 
Jenn;f  and  Xell  in  the  cave.  The  quarrel,  Jennie'?  murderous  attempt  to  kill  Xell. 
Mack  interferes.  The  secret  of  the  octoroon*  disclosed.  Jennie  stabs  Mack.  Guy 
and  Jennie  eraape.  Ebony  and  Major  Dolittle  rescue  Nell.  Mack  reveals  to  Nei' 
who  her  narent*  anv 

Scene  /A/.—  Return  of  Xell.  Ebony  and  Major  Dolittle.  to  Toomstone.  News  of 
Mack's  death.  Charley  Grey  regains  his  stolen  gold.  Nell  to  return  East  with  her 
father.  Ebony  can't  fr*  loft  behind  to  be  boo-dooed.  _ 


«...  means  RizV:  f...  L-ift:  a.  H..  Right  '1  inl:  t,.  H..  Left  Hani;  o..  Centra;  s.  «. 
3d  t-.lSaoond  W  itn-ve;  n.  K..  tlnper  Entranoe;  si.  o.,  \fi  1  lie  lr>,->r;  r.,  tht  PUt  I 
•.  r.,  Door  in  Flat:  «..  C.,  Rizht  of  Centre;  u  0.,  Left  of  Centra. 

VI.  O.  0.  L.    (1. 

Tm«  r»a4*  *  ~~*  ••  ^  —  «•  fk«  ita**  faoiat  U«  M 


Claim  Ninety-Six. 


ACT  I. 

SCENE  I. — MACK'S  saloon  at  Toomstone.  California.  Table  and  9h*ti 
R.  c. ;  fear  extending  from  c.  to  R. ;  MACK  leaning  on  end  of  bar  c. , 
GUY  leaning  veer  bar  R.  c..  smoking ;  a*  curtain  rises  MACK  striket 
bar  viciously  with  open  hand. 

Mack.  I  tell  yon,  old  man,  if -we  can  do  that,  and  make  as  good 
success  of  it  as  \\e  have  of  the  two's  and  flvn's,  in  lesi  than  a  year  our 
fortune  will  run  way  over  the  million  line,  thev  will  be  oolossial  I 
U'll  you,  but  it  is  risky,  I  fear  we'll  never  do  it,  if  we  can — 

Guy.  If  we  can — bah!  I  know  we  can!  Didii't  learn  he  title  of 
"King  of  Counterfeiters"  while  I  was  in  the  Ea»t?  Do  you  think  I 
have  lost  any  of  my  skill  since  coming  out  here?  No  sir!  lean 
engrave  as  good  a  plate  to-day  as  I  could  te.n  rears  ago;  yo  ;  Daren't 
heard  any  complaint  from  the  two's  and  five's  yet,  have  you? 

Mack.    Thunder!  no,  they  would  pass  with  the  cashierof  any  bank. 

Guy.  And  if  I  don't  engrave  plates  for  ten's  and  twenty's  that 
will  do  the  same,  I'll— I'll — well  I'll  agree  to  drink  all  thr  old  rotten 
shotgun  whiskey  you've  got  in  this — this— (looks  around)  this  pilaoe 
of  yours,  Mack,  (lauqhiny)  There!  you  couldn't  ask  a  man  to  Jo 
anything  more  desperate  than  that,  could  you? 

Mack,  (goes  behind  bar)  There  old  man,  that's  all  right — (sets  out 
bottle}  lei's  imbibe,  that's  reliable;  the  common  run  of  cow-boy's 
don't  get  to  see  that  bottle — take  something. 

Guy.  No!  a  man  in  the  business  I  am,  needs  a  clear  and  level 
head,  an  i  he  can't  have  that  and  drink  your  whiskey,  Mack;  but 
about  the  plates  for  the  twenty's — you  have  never  seen  any  of  Jennie'* 
work,  have  you  ?  Well  here,  (takes  out  bill  and  throws  it  on  bar)  look 
at  that.  (MACK  examines  bill  closely)  Well,  what  do  you  think  of 
that,  pretty  good,  eh?  Think  th  it  would  pass? 

Mack.  Thunder!  ves,  I  would  take  it  myself,  if  you  hadn't  said  it 
was  queer.  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  your  sitter  engraved  that 
plate,  do  you  ? 

Quy.  That's  exactly  what  I  do  say;  she  not  only  engraved  it,  but 
she  printed  it  too. 

Mack.  The  devil !  (examines  b:il)  Say,  old  man,  is  the  whole 
family  counterfeiters?  If  they  are,  your  father  must  have  been 
•om-  thing  extraordinary.  Say,  where  did  he  work? 

Guy.  That's  none  of  your  darned  business,  Mr.  Jerry  Mack.  I've 
told  you  several  times  that  you  didn't  need  te  know  anything  about 
mr  antecedent*.  Our  business  relation  U  just  this  aa«i  ao  »»r«— J 


2072900 


»  CLAIM 

print  the  money  and  you  pass  it  off,  that  is  just  a-?  far  as  we  go,  do 
you  un<!crsr.:niil ''. 

Mack.  Oh !  That's  all  right,  here  take  something  and  we  won't 
eay  anything  more  about  it,  the  twenty's  will  be  a  success,  I  am 
§nre  of  th.-it. 

&uy.  Well  then,  just  once,  raises  bottle)  here's  success  to  the 
tea's  and  twenty's,  and  hoping  that  we  will  make  a  million. 

Enter,  NELL,  L.,  1  *. 

Nell.  Hold  on  there,  Guy,  I  want  to  join  you  in  that.  (N.KLL 
joes  behind  counter,  takes  gluts)  Now  then,  here,  let  me  add  a  little 
to  that  toast — here's  hoping  that  we  all  will  make  a  million  a  piece 
and  1  shall  sain  a  husband  before  the  year  is  out.  (touch  glasses  and 
drinK)  Well ! 

Mnck.     Well,  what? 

Nell.  Well,  that's  the  best  speculation  that's  been  made  in  Toom- 
*tone  since  I've  known  anything  about  the  camp. 

Mack.     Speculation? 

Nell.     Yes,  spec — u — lation,  that's  what  I  Bald. 

Guy.  Whos'  b<en  making  a  speculation?  Tell  us  all  about  it, 
Xell." 

Nell,    (to  MACK)     How  much  did  yon  sell  "Claim  96"  for? 

.Hack.  That  was  about  the  best  speculation  that's  been  made  for 
some  time.  I  got  $500  out  of  old  "96." 

Nell.     And  you  thought  it  .vasn't  worth  flfty  cents. 

M<'ck.  Thought?  1  know  it,  I  wouldn't  give  Guy  twenty-five 
cents  for  it  to-day.  Guy  can  tell  you  the  worth  of  "96." 

Nell.     Just  the  tame,  Charley  Grey  has  struck  it  rich! 

Mack.     What? 

Guy.     Ah  !  m  pocket,  Nell,  it  won't  pan  out  anything. 

JTetf.  No  sir!  A  strong,  heavy  veir,  I  tell  you,  tree  from  quartz, 
and  the  assayer  says  it  will  go  to  seventy  percent,  and  may  be  eighty. 

Mack.  What  a  fool  I  was  for  ever  seeling  old  "96,"  Guy.  (t<> 
NXLL)  Who  told  you  about  it,  Nell? 

Nell.  Nobody  I  I  seen  it  with  my  own  eyes.  I  went  with  Charley 
down  to  the  a*sayers  office;  you  ought  to  have  «een  that  old  clerk's 
eyes  bulge  out  when  Charley  showed  him  a  pan  full  of  the  dirt.  Say, 
Guy,  I'll  shake  you  the  box  for  the  drinks.  (picks  up  dice  box 

Quy.     What's  he  going  to  do  with  his  claim? 

Nell.  Charley  says  he  is  going  to  work  old  "96* ;  for  all  she  is 
^orth.  Oid  Brandon,  the  banker,  offered  him  fifty  thousand  for 
th«  mine,  but  Charley  refused,  and  then  Brandon  offered  him  thirty 
thousand  for  a  half  interest. 

Mack,     Tiiunderation ! 

Sell.  Lord !  You  ought  to  SM  Charley's  cabin,  he's  got  gold 
piled  up  on  the  floor  a  foot  deep. 

Quy.  Nell,  you  are  giving  us  a  breeze  now.  Has  Grey  really 
struck  it  rich  at  last? 

Nell.  You  bet  he  has!  Re  has  got  lots  of  gold  down  in  his  cabin, 
not  a  foot  deep,  though.  .Mack,  you  old  schemer,  that's  one  of  your 
speculations  that  didn't  pan  out  well.  (starts  R. 

Jfack.     Hold  on  !     Where  are  you  going? 

Nell.     Charley  bet  me  an  ounce  of  dust  a  while  ago,  that  he  could 


CLAIM  .V/.Y;.  7 T-57T.  I 

host  me  shooting  with  a  rifle,  and  1  ju>t  \\ant  to  show  him  tha1  !i« 
can't  shoot  a  little  hit.  (exit,  R.,    1   K. 

M<ick.  Well,  i|(. n't  be  irone  long,  \  want  you  to  'tend  h.-'r  awhile. 
I  am  going  down  to  %e«  Grey.  (t»  GCYI  Gfld  man,  let's  sit  down, 
that  news  ha*  made  me  shake}';  (*e<.itv>l  R.  o.)  and  that  fool  of  a 
tenderfoot  Grey  has  struck  it  rich  at  last. 

Guy.     (settled  R.  c.)     Seems  that  way. 

Mack.  Guy.  we've  been  partners  for  about  a  year  in  the  jfreen 
goods  busine-s,  havn't  we? 

Guy.  About  a  year  I  think,  and  in  that  year  you  have  tried,  at 
le.-ist  seven  hundred  different  schemes  to  chisel  me  out  of  money, 
havn't  you  Mack?  Yon  are  the  most  miserly  man  I  ever  done  busi- 
ness with.  Honestly  Mack,  you  are  the  meanest  man  I  ever  saw, 
you'd  pasture  a  go.-it  on  your  mother's  grave. 

Mack,  (laug'titig)  Oh  !  well,  if  a  fellow  don't  look  out  for  himself 
these  days,  who  will  look  out  for  him?  I  am  in  the  West  for  what 
money  there  is  in  it,  and  not  for  my 'health.  But  about  this  partner- 
ship bu-ine?s— how  wouid  you  like  to  go  in  deeper — that  i»,  if  there 
i-  any  money  in  it,  and  I  think  there  is. 

Guy.     Well.  I  don't  know,  explain  yourself,  Mack. 

.Vac /i.     Well,  Charley  Grey  has  struck  it  rich. 

Guy.  Yes,  thaf  a  a  dead  sure  thing,  Charley  Grey  baa  struck  it 
rich— >Well ! 

Mack.     And  he  keeps  his  gold  in  his  cabin. 

Guy.     Not  so  sure  of  that  Mack — Well ! 

Mack.  O!  drop  that  infernal  well  of  yours,  Guy,  it  grows 
monotonous.  Listen — suppose  you  and  I  go  down  to  Grey's  cabin 
to-night,  while  he  is  away,  and  take  whit  gold  he  has.  I  know 
where  he  keeps  it,  we  can  get  it  and  no  one  be  the  wiser,  and  then 
\\  e  can  get  him  in  here — get  him  to  drink  some — 

Guy.  Yes,  if  we  get  lain  to  drink  any  of  this  "stomach  corosive" 
yon  keep.  Mack,  you  can  get  him  to  do  anything. 

Mack.  We'll  get  him  to  drink  and  then  get'himin  a  game  of  cardi 
and  cheat  him  out  of  what  gold  he  has  left. 

Guy.  Well,  of  all  the  low  down,  mean,  two  faced,  thieving,  cool- 
headed  rast  -ally  men  I  ever  knew,  you  tuke  the  banner,  Mack,  you 
take  the  whole  culinary  department  lor  cussedness. 

Mack.  Don't  get  so  personal,  Guy;  what  do  you  say?  Will  you 
help? 

Guy.  Well,  I  never  done  any  of  that  kind  of  work  before — but 
here's  my  hand  on  it,  and  you  may  rely  on  me.  ( they  ihake,  hands 

Maj.  (out  L.  )  Hello!  there,  I  say;  house!  houae!  Landlord!  bar- 
tender! anybody  !  send  a  nigger  out  here,  or  coma  out  yourself  and 
iake  my  horse — Gad,  do  you  want  a  fellah  to  starve?  Hello!  house  1 
house! 

Guy.  What  the  deuce  is  that?  (looks  L.)  Ho!  Mack,  another 
innoeent  for  you  to  fleece,  and  I'll  wairer  that  you'll  do  it  too! 

M"Ck.  (goes  L.,  1  E.)  flitch  yer  horse  and  come  in  stranger. 
(U>  GUY)  Thunderation  !  Guy,  here  cmne's  Stonewall  Jackson. 

Guy.     Well,  I'll  see  you  again  in  an  h  uir  or  so.          (exit,  R.,  1  c. 

Mack.  All  right!  '(goes  L.,  1  E.)  Come  in  stranger,  come  in 
don't  stand  on  ceremony  here,  come  in. 

Enter,  MAJOR  DULITTLK,  L.,  1  E. 

Maj.     Begad!  sah,  1  can't  say  that  I  like  your  hospitality— ( 
ina  nvse)     Faugh !  is  this  a  saloon  or  a  glu«  factory  ? 


Mack.  Thunder  I  what  do  you  mean  ?  This  is  a  saloon,  of  course. 
KHiat  did  you  take  It;  for?  A  tan  yard ? 

Maj.  You  better  go  and — whew — (whtstlct)  where  does  that  dia- 
bolical odor  come  from  ? 

Mack.    O!  that's  limberger  cheese.  (retires  behind  bar 

Ma}.  Well,  begad  sah,  you'd  better  lead  it  out.  (yoe*  L.  c.) 
Give  me  some  gin  and  peppermint.  I  suppose  you  could  furnish — 
(stops  and  stares  at  MACK)  well,  by  gad ! 

Mack.  Well,  what  in  thunder  is  the  matter  with  you?  Didn't 
you  ever  see  a  stranger  before '{ 

Maj.     Well,  begad  sah,  I  never  saw  a  stranger  before  that  looks 
»o  much  like  my  old  slave  driver,  John  Sands. 
Mack,     (goes  L.  c.,  startled— aside)     Thun< Oration? 
Maj.     I  suppose  eah,  that  you  don't  know  John  Sands? 
Mack.    No!  sir,  no!  sir,  never  heard  tell  of -him  hefore,   or  you 
either. 

Maj.  Well,  that's  all  right  then;  give  me  some  gin  and  pepper- 
mint. (MACK  serves  him)  This  is  a  pretty  common  snloon,  ain't  it? 
Begad  gah,  I'm  used  to  drinking  before  a  looking-glass. 

Mack.  Then  you  haven't  been  in  the  West  very  long.  I  might 
put  in  a  flne  mirror  and  a  seventy-live  dollar  pyramid,  and  the  first 
cow-boy  that  come  in  drunk,  would  see  how  many  pieces  he  could 
shoot  them  into. 

Maj.     Then  sab,  be  gad,  I'd  shoot  him.  (flourishes  revolver 

Mack.  The  boyg  out  here  want  wliigkey,  and  they  would  rather 
drink  it  out  of  tin  cups  than  cut  glass. 

Maj.  By  gad,  sah,  I'm  giad  I  stopped  here.  Give  me  so  ne  diabo- 
lical gin  and  peppermint.  I  want  to  stop  here  with  you  a  few  days 
—I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentuckey,  be  gad  sah. 

Muck,  (excited,  goes  L.  c. — aside]  Thunder!  my  old  employer; 
what  ill  luck  lias  brought  him  here? 

Maj.  Be  gad,  sah,  1  used  to  own  a  hundred  niggers  before  the  war ; 
when  the  cussed  abolitionists  came  down  and  treed  'em.  I  used  to 
liave  a  fellah  hired  to  \\hip  niggers  and  do  other  chores  for  me — h,- 
name  was  John  Sands — lie  stole  a  hundred  dollars  from  me,  be  gad, 
and  cut  sticks  for  the  West;  you  look  enough  like  John  San  Is  to  be 
his  twin  broiher.  be  gad  sah ;  if  I  ever  find  that  man,  I'll  put,  a  holt- 
through  his  diabolical  heart,  that  you  can  throw  a  Chinese  bible 
through,  and  I  more  than  half  way  believ*  you  are  the  m  in. 

(flourishes  revolver 

Mack.  But  1  tell  you  I  am  not!  I  was  born  an  1  raise  I  herein 
Ji is  section  ol  the  country  ;'and  I'll  tell  you  another  thing  too,  1 
don't  allow  every  stranger  that  comes  along,  to  give  me  the  lie;  now 
sir,  let's  drop  the  subject. 

Maj.  All  right  sah,  if  you  ain't  John  Sands,  why— why  be  gad, 
sah,  give  me  some  gin  and  peppermint.  1  came  to  this  country  to 
invest  in  mining  lands,  and  be  gad,  sah,  I've  got  the  motn-y  to  pay 
for 'em  too.  i  want  the  best  room  you've  got  in  your  diabolical 
house,  sah,  and  here's  ten  dollars  to  pay  for  it,  give  me  your  regis- 
ter and  I'll  sign  my  name.  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  fro.n  Keu«ucky,  sah. 
1  used  to  own  one  hundred  niggers,  two  moon-shine  distilierys,  and 
the  biggest  tobacco  plantation  in  the  Srate;  (MACK  throws  out  regis- 
ter) \  always  sign  my  name  with  an  X. 
Mack.  Here!  let  me  write  your  name  for  you. 
Ma).  Jf  yo»«  don't-  like  the  way  1  write  my  name,  sah,  maybe,  you 


CLAIM  NIXETJ-SIX. 

w\\\  meet  me  In  a  little  affair  of  honah  In  the  morning,  be  gad,  sah, 
ind  1  choose  pistols  for  the  weapons. 

Mack.     No  sir  !   I  decline  to  fight  you. 

Maj.  Then  sah,  if  you  won't  fight,  I'll  take  some  gin  and  pepper- 
iiiint. 

Mack,  (goes  R.  ,  I  K.  ,  calls)  Nell!  O!  Nell!  come  here  and  watch 
".he  bar,  I'm  going  down  to  see  Grey. 

Enter,  NELL,  a.,  1  B. 

Nell.  All  right  governor!  here  I  am  and  you  can  bet  your  last 
iiigget  on  me,  I'll  keep  things  straight. 

(noes  behind  bar  and  works  vigoromly 

Mack.     I'll  not  be  gone  long,  Nell,  halt  an  hour,  maybe. 

(exit,  L.,  1  K. 

Nell.     Stay  all  day  if  you  want  too. 

Maj.  (R.  c.  —  aside)  Be  gad,  Major,  that's  a  diabolical  good  look- 
ng  girl.  (NKLL  brushing  clothes,  etc.)  It's  be«n  some  time  since 
i  ou've  had  a  chance  to  look  at  a  pretty  girl,  sah,  but  1  flatter  myself, 
i  ou've  got  a  good  appearance;  now  tor  a  little  love  making.  What'.* 
:he  matter  with  that  di  iliolical  heart  of  mine:1  Be  gad,  it?s  right  up 
n  my  mouth.  Now  Major,  play  your  cards  to  your  own  advantage, 
i  ml  use  your  infatuating  powers  the  beso  you  know  how.  Ahem! 
aloud)  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentucky,  sah,  and  —  and  —  and  be 
;a<l  sah,  I'll  take  some  giu  an  I  peppermint 


II.—  Street. 
Enter,  MACK,  L.,  1  a.,  CHARLEY  GREY,  ».,  1  s.,  they  meet  9. 

Mack.  Hello!  Charley,  how  are  you?  I  had  just  started  down  to 
-••e  you.  They  tell  me  that  you've  struck  it  rich  at  last.  I  want  to 
.•onjiratulate  you  on  your  goo  1  luck.  (shake  hands 

L'harley.  Yes,  Mack,  after  so  long  a  time  I  have  struck  ''pay  dirt." 
I  am  afraid  that  the  selling  of  old  "96"  was  a  bad  speculation  for 
pou,  Mack. 

Mack.  Ah  !  that's  all  right  Charley,  of  course  I  didn't  get  the  real 
tvonh  of  the  mine,  but  i  like  to  help  a  fellow  along  when  he  needs 
t.  When  1  sola  you  "Claim  96"  you  had  been  here  in  Toornstone 
:or  a  year,  and  hadn't  made  a  dollar,  while  I  had  been  here  about 
;wo  years  ami  made  plenty  of  money.  My  motto  is  "Live  and  let 

live."" 

<_  hut.  And  that's  a  good  motto  for  anv  man  to'have.  Mack,  you 
nave  been  a  royal  good  triend  to  me,  and  Charley  Grey  ain'tthe  man 
to  go  hack  on  his  friends. 

Ebony,     (out  B.,  sinys)     ''O!  I  carry  my  shop  upon  my  back." 

Enter,  EBONY,  E.  m. 

Hello!  dar  Charley,  lernme  shine  yer  boots,  only  five  cents. 

Mnck.     Hello!  there  Ebony,  I  thought  you  hail  left  these  diggings. 

Hbumj.  Hi  golly!  no  bos«.  I'se  here  fo'  de  reason,  1  tells  yo'.  Hi 
dar  boss  Charley,  yon  done  been  gone  and  strm-k  it  rich  at  last,  ain' 
yo'  ?  I.emme  shine  yer  shoes  fer  you. 

C'has.  Yes,  go  ahead,  give  them  a  good  shine,  new  mind  fou, 
Ebony. 


8  CLAIM  NINETY- SIX. 

Mack.  Well,  Charley,  comedown  to  the  "Gold  Dust  bar"  to-night 
and  we  \villgetupaniceliltlegame.  Lester  and  one  or  I  wool  hers 
will  be  down  there.  (-iturlif,  K. 

Ebony.  Hi  golly!  Charley,  didn't  I  done  go  fer  to  tell  yer  dat  yei 
goin'  ter  make  a  fortune  yet?  (glutting  CHARITY'S  shoe* 

C/ias.  All  right,  Mack!  I'll  be  down  to-night,  (to  EBONY)  Yes, 
Ebony,  I've  struck  a  good  vein,  and  if  it  holds  out  lam  ou  the  high 
road  to  fortune. 

Mack,  (aside)  And  on  the  high  road  to  the  devil  too.  If  I  don't 
fleece  3rou,  I  miss  my  guess,  that's  all.  (exit,  K.,  1  E. 

Ebony.  I  tell  you  boss,  we'se  all  goiu'  to  strike  it  rich  some  time 
sho',  if  we  jist  got  de  stayin'  quality,  jist  sho'  to.  I  golly,  when  1 
first  came  here  to  dis  place,  I  us'ter  think  dat  I'd  never  get  'nutf 
money  ahead  to  buy  me  a  looking-glass  to  see  myself  starve  to  death, 
but  I  tell  you  boss,  I'm  way  out  of  sight  now,  but  if  I  was  you 
Charley,  I  wouldn't  trust  dat  feller,  Mack. 

Chan.     Why  not,  Ebony?     Don't  you  think  he  is  honest? 

Mbony.     Tell  you  boss,  he  talks  too  smooth;  I  believe  he'd  steal. 

Olian.  But  he  has  always  been  a  friend  of  mine,  tie  sold  me 
"Claim  96'*  for  a  great  deal  less  than  he  gave  for  it. 

Kbony.  And  when  he  sold  you  dat  claim  he  didn't  think  it  was 
worth  anything.  You  better  take  a  niggers  advice.  I  tell  you  he'll 
steal,  and  dat  feller  comin'  down  de  street  yonder,  (point*  r..,  1  K.; 
better  watch  him  too. 

Ckas.  (leaks  L,.,  1  E.)  ,  Ohl  Guy  Lester,  I  don't  like  him  very  well. 
He  alw  ays  wears  good  clothes  and  has  plenty  of  money. 

Ebony.  And,  I  golly,  he  never  works  none,  either;  nobody  knows 
anything  about  him  or  Mack  either,  nobody  knows  where  dey  come 
from.  1  tell  you  boss,  dey'll  steal. 

Chas.  Well,  there  may  be  something  in  what  you  say,  Ebony, 
and  it  won't  do  any  harm  to  watch  them  a  little.  I  don't  feel  in 
.the  mood  to  talk  to  Lester  now,  so  I'll  just  walk  down  the  street. 

(txit,  K,,   1  JB. 

Ebony,  (looking  R.,  1  K.)  I  golly,  white  man's  mighty  euro's,  1 
bet  he  makes  a  fool  out'en  himself;  most  white  folks  do  when  dey 
find  something  dey  ain't  expectin'.  I  golly,  he  never  paid  me  for 
shinin'  dem  shoes,  (calls)  Hi  dar!  boss  Charley!  golly  wait! 

(ruthet  out  K.,  1  K. 

Enter,  GUY  LKSTEK,  !•.,  1  K. 

Ghiy.  Cuss  the  niggers,  it  always  gives  me  the  shivers  to  see  one. 
I  wonder  if  I  ever  can  overcome  my  hatred  of  the  race?  Not  likely, 
when  1  take  the  second  thought  and  know  that  some  of  the  same 
blood  courses  through  my  veins,  and  that  I  have  been  a  >l:ive.  th:it  I 
have  had  to  acknowledge  myself  another  man's  properly,  to  do  hi> 
bidding,  to  work  with  the  other  niggers,  as  he  has  ot'it-n  expiv>seil 
it;  or  take  the  lash  at  the  hands  of  an  over-bearing  slave  driver — a 
"nigger-whipper" — who  would  count  it  a  crime  for  running  H  way 
from  such  a  man  as  that?  Bah!  I  wish  I  oootd  exterminate  the 
whole  accursed  race,  at  once. 

Enter,  JENNIE  LESTER,  H.,  1  K. 

Jennie.     Hello!  Guy,  what  are  you  doing  here? 
Guy.     Whui!  Jennie?     What  are  you  here  for T 


CLAT.V  If TN STY-SIX.  » 

Jtn.  Well,  I  heard  that  the  Regulators  of  Toom*tone  were  about 
waking  up  again,  so  I  came  down  to  see  if  I  could  learn  anything 
about  it. 

Guy.  O !  the  Regulators  are  all  right,  they  will  never  do  anything, 
they  can't  afford  to  track  thieves,  there's  too  many  thieves  among 
themselves. 

Jen.  How  does  it  come  that  you  are  here  in  Toomstonu  ?  Thought 
yon  were  up  on  the  ''Divide." 

Guy.     OI  Mack  and  1  were  arranging  some  business  for  to-night. 

Jen.  And  what  were  you  standing  out  here  on  the  street  by  yon r- 
selt  tor?  Oh!  1  know,  you  were  brooding  over  that  oM  trouble: 
will  you  never  forget  ? 

Guy.  Forget?  How  can  a  man  forget  when  he  has  to  wear  that 
accursed  mark  to  the  grave;  (hold*  out  hand  with  S marked  on  back) 
and  you  too,  Jennie,  (takes  jENXiE'sftarad,  S  on  back)  how  can  yon 
aek  me  to  forget  and  these  marks  slareiug  me  in  the  face? 

Jen.  But  we  are  free,  now  Guy,  to  do  as  we  please,  we  are  not 
ihe  property  of  any  man  now.  We  are  free,  I  say,  and  let  any  man 
deny  it  if  he  dares — (draws  small  dirk)  but  we  are  the  onljr  ones  here 
that  know  of  our  part  life. 

truy.  Bah!  but  the  dread,  the  suspense — sometimes  we  may  sec 
.-omeone  who  will  recognize  us  as  slaves,  runaway  niggers;  someone 
inav  find  out  our  past  life — then  what?  I  tell  you  giri,  the  thought 
is  almost  madening. 

Jen.  Let  them  find  out,  but  let  anyone  breathe  one  word  and— 
(raises  dirk)  but  don't  speak  ofglaves,  runaway  niggers;  for  heaven'- 
saUe  !  don't  mention  that,  Guy.  We  have  seen  trouble  enough  while 
we  were  in  bondage;  don't  speak  of  it  now,  when  we  are  far  away 
I roiu  it.  There  is  no  danger  of  anyone  finding  u*  out,  we  liav.: 
changed  our  name — 

Guy.  That  amounts  to  nothing — what's  in  a  name?  There  is  the 
trouble,  (shown  hand)  1  tell  you — sometimes  that  cursed  mark 
burns  and  sears  the  flesh  like  a  coal  of  tire.  There  would  be  more 
honor  in  being  as  black  as  midnight — then  you  are  not  in  dr«.id,  you 
are  known.  Sometimes  I  think  i  could  cut  that  hand  off,  throw  i 
in  the  fiie  and  watch  it  burn — anything  to  destroy,  and  bend  of  tliaf 
mark. 

Jen.  O!  Guy!  Guy!  don't  get  yourself  in  such  a  fearful  rag<-, 
come,  go  home  with  me  and  we  will  go  to  work  and  forget  all 
about  that  hateful  mark.  Come — 

buy.  No!  I  shnll  stay  here — you  go,  and  you  may  go  to  work  on 
the  plates  for  the  ten's  and  twenty's.  Mack  will  be  up  to  .see  them 
sometime  to-morrow.  I  shall  be  home  sometime  to-night  or  in  the 
morni.  g — you  are  not  afraid? 

Jen.     Afraid?  (shows  dirk,  exit,  L.,  1  B. 

Guy.  (looking  L.,  1  B.)  Few  men  have  such  a  faithful  si<ter  as  1 
have.  Aii !  if  it  wasn't  for  that  blight  (raises  hand)  I  amid  be  some- 
body yet.  Why  did  my  life  have  to  be  so  curse J  ?  An  octoroon — 
an  eighth  blood — (draws  revolver)  I've  a  u'ood  mind  to  put  an  end  to 
my  existence,  but  no !  I  have  an  abhoronce — a  hatred  against  tht 
world.  I'll  live,  and  any  crime,  any  .-icJon  1  can  do  against  mankind, 
I'll  do  it.  For  men  have  made  me  what  I  am,  and  now  they  must 
look  out,  I  am  desperate. 


19  CLAIM 

Enter,  MACK,  R.,  1  «.,  ulapt  GUY  on  ikoulder. 

Mack.     Well  Guy! 

Guy.     O!  Mack,  you  are  back,  are  you? 

Mack.  Yes,  and  everything  is  comingour  way.  I  tell  you  I  have 
(bund  out  everything  about  Grey,  we  need  to  know.  He  keeps  his 
irold  hid  in  one  corner  of  his  cabin.  The  lock  on  the  door  i-*  a  very 
clumsy  affair,  asmall  piece  of  wire  will  remedy  that.  Thunderation  ! 
Guy.  it  is  the  most  inviting  job  I  ever  saw. 

Guy.  Mack,  you  :ire  taking  this  very  cool,  it  strikes  me  that  you 
must  be  an  old  hand  at  the  business. 

Mack.  Yon  told  me  awhile  ago  that  I  need  not  know  anything 
about  your  ancestors;  now  I'll  tell  you  that  you  don't  need  to  know 
anything  about  my  past. 

Guy.  Well,  I  guess  we  are  about  even  on  that  score.  Mack:  but 
look  here,  suppose  Grey  comes  back  to  his  cabin  and  ti:id<  us  there, 
then  what? 

Mack.  And  suppose  he  don't  do  anythingof  the  kind?  Thunder- 
ation  !  isn't  the  chances  as  good  one  way  as  the  other?  I'think  t iiey 
are  better,  if  he  does  come  in  and  finds  u-  in  his  cabin,  we  can  frame 
up  some  kind  of  a  lie,  and  if  he  don't  co:ne,  then  we  will  be  a  couple 
t>i  thousands  ahead. 

Guy.  Mack,  do  you  expect  Grey  to  stay  away  of  his  own  accord  ? 
Mack.  No!  I've  bee  i  talking  to  him  until  he  thinks  I  am  the  best 
friend  he  has.  I  must  go  down  to  the  "G  >M  Dust,"  Grey  said  lie 
would  be  down  there,  and  we  can't  afford  to  let  the  friendship  be- 
tween us  grow  cold  now.  (starts  L.)  O!  by  the  way,  (turnin/j)  I 
i  nought  of  another  plan  awhile  ago.  Grey  carries  his  claim  papers 
w  ith  him  all  the  time,  so  we  can  g'-t  him  drunk  and  steal  his  papers 
from  hirn,  and  we  will  be  the  owners  of  old  "96,"  and  tnen  if  he 
makes  a  fuss  about  it,  we  can  say  that  he  sold  the  claim  to  us.  We 
can  write  out  a  receipt  you  know — that's  a  good  plan,  don't  you 
think  go?  Well,  I  must  be  going.  You  come  down  to  the  "Gi>ld 
Dust"  afier  awhile  and  we  will  finish  our  arrangements  for  that  little 
affair  of  to-night.  (ejcit,  L. 

Guy.  (looking  L.)  Of  all  the  rascally,  scoundrels  in'existence  you 
must  be  the  worst,  Jerry  Mack.  (EBONY  looks  in  R.)  I  fear  you 
more  than  any  other  living  man ;  it  you  knew  my  secret,  it  would  bo 
noised  from  ttie  Mississippi  river  to  the  Pacific  coast.  If  1  coul.l  only 
learn  tiie  secret  of  your  past,  then  we  would  be  even.  You  have  a. 
secret,  I  am  sure,  and  I  shall  make  it  my  business  to  find  out  wh  u. 
that  secret  is.  (es.U,  L.,  1  K. 

Enter,  EBONY,  R..  1  E.,  slips  after  GUY. 

Ebony,  And  I'll  show  you  dat  a  fool  nigger's  got  some  sense.  If 
I  don't  keep  de  white  of  my  eye  over  in  your  direction,  i  hope  I  may 
chew  all  of  de  bristles  outu't  my  shoe  brush.  (exit,  L.,  1  K. 

SCENE  III. — MACE'S  saloon;  SACRAMKNTO  Jo«  seated  *.  c.,  NBLJ 
seated  on  box  L.  of  JOB. 

Joe.  Them's  my  sentiments  exactly,  precisely,  just  to  a  dot,  and 
I  don't  give  a  cuss.  It's  a  shame,  Nell,  a  burnin'  shame  fer  hirn  tor 
keep  you  here  in  Toomstone,  in  this  here  hole  of  pure  cussedness,  ter 
uaake  you  stay  here  aud  serve  out  his  slop  over  that  bar  to  these  her* 


CLAIM  NINETY-SIX.  1) 

miners,  what  ain't  any  better  nor  a  durrb  hrnte — a  animnl  what 
walks  on  four  feet.  You  orter  be  some'rs  in  the  East,  In  school  or — 
or — soniethin' — 

Nell.     Why  Joe!  he  gays  I  know  too  mutfi  now. 
Joe.     Yes,  that's  jist  like  his  'Moil  burned"  chinnin'  to  talk  that*er 
way.     I  say  you  orter  be  in  school,  and  I'm  goin'  ter  tell  him  so,  too. 
Them's  my  sentiments  and  1  don't  give  a  cuss. 

Nell.  He  wouldn't  let  me  go,  Joe,  'cause  h<:  says,  he's  my — my — 
what  do  you  call  it? 

Joe.  Yer — yer  gardeen,  Nell,  that's  it  persactly  and  that's  another 
one  of  his  "dod  burned"  lies  too.  Mack's  alers  been  a  rascal  and  he 
alers  will  be.  Them's  my  sentiments  jist  to  a  dot  and  I  don't  give  a 
cuss.  I've  knowed  him  fer  a —  (stops  suddenly 

Nell.  Well,  what  made  you  stop,  Joe?  You  told  me  once  that 
you  had  only  been  in  this  part  of  California  for  two  years,  and  of 
course  you  didn't  know  Mack  before  then. 

Joe.    O!  incourse,  incourse,   I 'de  never  seed  him  afore,   then,  but 

don't  you  pay  too  perticlar  'tention  to  whsit  I  was  'er  savin*,  gal.     I 

-;iid  that  Jerry  M;ick  was  'er  rascal,  and  dot  burn  him  lie  is  too.     Fir 

in't  no  more  yer  gardt-en    nor  Iain.     Them's  my  sentiments  per- 

5.-ictly  and  I  don't  give  a  cuss.     How  did  he  git  you  anyway? 

Nell.  Why.  he  said  in  1850,  there  was  a  wagon  train  passed 
through  Nevada,  cl»se  to  when1  he  was  working  in  a  silver  mint- — the 
next  morning  lie  was  out  on  the  prairie  looking  for  some  stray  hor-e? 
and  he  found  me,  and  that  I  had  got  lost  from  the  wagon  train.  I 
was  about  two  years  old  then,  and  when  Mack  took  me  to  the  camp 
the  miners  said  they  would  call  me  Nugget  Nell,  and  that's  Deen 
my  name  ever  since. 

Joe.  Persactly,  and  Mack  said  that  was  in  1850;  now  let  me  Hirer 
a  little — this  is  1865,  and  fl:ty  and  ten  is  sixtv,  and  five  is  sixty-five, 
that  makes  fifteen  years  and  you  was  two  years  old  when  he  found 
von,  that  makes  two  more,  consequently  you  are  seventeen  year? 
old. . 

Nell.  But  I  am  older  than  that,  Joe.  I  am  nineteen,  I  found  that 
wrote  down  in  a  little  book  that  Mack  keeps  hid. 

Joe.  Then  them  dates  i*  another  one  of  his  dod  burned  mistak"*, 
'cause  tigers  w.  n't  lie.  I  tell  you  Nell,  Mack's  a  rascal.  Them's 
my  sentiments  jist  to  a  dot  and  1  don't  give  a  cuss.  He  knows  who 
you  belong  to  jist  as  well  as — as — as  any  other  man.  1  wish  I  had 
that  1  ttle  book  that  you  say  he  keeps  hid. 

Nell.     Well,  I  can  get  it  for  you  Joe,  if  you'll  never  tell. 
J»e.     Well,  I'll  never  tell. 
Ndl.     Honest? 

Joe.     Honest!  "honor  bright." 

Nell.     Hope  to  fall  down  a  raft  and  break  yonr  neck,  if  yon  do? 
Joe.     Break  my  neck  if  I  do.     Them's  my  sentiments. 
Nell.     Well  then,  I'll  watch  and  the  first  chance  I  have,  I'll  pick 
the  lock  of  hi-  desk  and  steal  it. 

Joe.  Nell,  if  you'll  do  that,  the  first  nugget  I  find  I'll  give  to  you, 
don't  care  if  it's  as  big  as  a  house. 

_Neil.  All  right!  I'll  get  the  hook  for  you,  you  can  rely  on  me,  I 
ain't  no  marked  deck.  I'm  straight  an  1  yini  can  bet  your  last  scale 
ol  'lust  nn  that,  Joe. 

Jue.     Tuein's  the    sentiments,  Nell,    persactly.     You  git  m«  that 


/*  CLAIM  XINETY-SIT. 

book  and  I'll  bet  my  claim— what  ain't  nothin'  but  imagination— th»* 
we  wll  1  liave  you  in  school  in  the  East  in  less  than  two  months. 
Nell.     1  don't  believe  I'd  like  to  go  there.     I'll  rather  stay  here. 
Joe.     Now  look  here,  you  jist  rHy  on  Sacramenter  Joe,  fer  I  tell 
you,  when  you  git  to  the  East  you'll  ike  it  so  well,  you'll  never  want 
to  come  back  here.     Them's  my  sentiments. 
Nell.     I'd  want  to  come  back  and  see  you  sometimes,  Joe. 
Joe.     No!  you  wouldn't,    you'd    soon  forget  old  Joe.     Why  do  i 
burn  it  gal,  you  don't  know  how  much  difference  there  is  between 
the  East  and  this  place;  why'you'd  he  dresse  1  in  silk — 
Nell.     Is  silk  nio-r  than  old  faded  blue  calico? 
Joe.     (lauahs)     Ha!  ha!    ha!  O!  listen  at  her,  "Is  silk  nicer  than 
calico?"     Well  I  think   it  is  Xell,   a  dod  bur  ;ed  right  nicer.     Silk 
siiines  so  you  can  see  yourself  in  it.  and  then  you'd  have  a  nice  straw 
hat  with  green  ribbon  on  it  and  a  little  red  timbreller  fer  to  keep  off 
the  sun. 

Nell.    The  sun  can't  hurt  me  Joe,  I'm  used  to  it. 
Joe.     Well,  you'd  need  a  red  unbreller  when  you  go  East. 
Nell,     (lattghs)     Ha!  ha!  ha!  if  1   was  to    dress    up    that    way, 
wouldn't  1  cut  a  figure,  Joe?     Ha!  ha!  ha! 

Joe.  You'd  soon  get  used  to  it — jist  think  of  the  nice  things  you'd 
see,  big  fine  buildin's  and  — 

Nell.  Why,  don't  you  think  this  country  is  nice,  Joe?  The  trees, 
ind  mountains,  and  rocks  and  the  mines,  why  1  think  they  are  juit 
grand. 

Joe.     Yes,  but  not  like  the  East. 

Nell.  Is  there  really  so  much  difference  between  the  West  and 
East? 

Joe.  You  bet !  Wiiy  dod  burn  it  gal,  I'd  bet  my  last  nugget  on 
that  every  time.  Them's  my  sentiments  persactly,  and  I  don't  oare 
a  cuss. 

Nell.  Don't  the  girls  there  have  to  'tend  old  dirty  bars  like  I  do 
here  io  the  "Gold  Dust?" 

Joe.  No  sir  I  The  girls  there  ride  in  their  carriages  and  have  a 
nigger  to  drive  their  horses  for  em'.  (NELL  drops  her  head  in  her 
/lands  and  study's  deeply')  and  then  you  git  good  gtub  outthare,  old 
fashioned  pumpkin  pie  and  sicli  like.  I  tell  you  Xell,  I'd  go  furder 
right  now  fer  a  piece  of  real  oil  fashioned,  Now  England  Pumpkin 
pie,  than  anything  else  on  earth  ;  dod  burned  ef  1  wouldn't.  Now 
them's  ay  sentiments  persactly,  and  I  don't  give  a  cuss. 

Enter,  CHABLBT,  L.,  3  «. 

flello!  Charley,  struck  it  rich,  haven't  you?  Come  here  and  let  me 
shake  yer  hand.  (they  xhnka  hand* 

Ghas.  Yes,  struck  it  rich  at  last,  Joe,  and  my  days  of  poverty  are 
at  an  end.  Ah  !  Joe,  many's  the  time  that  I've  gone  to  bed  hungry, 
and  wondering  where  my  bieakf'ast  was  to  come  from,  but  those 
days  are  past,  for  if  "Claim  96"  holds  out  like  she  opens  up,  I'm  Jay 
Gould,  Joe. 

Joe.     Persactly,  them's  the  sentiments. 

Chas.  But  what's  the  matter  here?  (points  to  NBLL)  She  seems 
unusually  quiet;  nut  sick  are  you  Xell? 

Joe.     No!  she's  uot  fcick,  she's  studyin*.     I've  been  sivin'  her  a 


CLAIM   Nl.V  ET7-S1JL.  2J 

lecture  about  tin-  Ka-t.  and  she  can't  hardly  take  it  all  in,  she  kindei 
thinks  Joe's  a  lyin'  to  her. 

Nell.  No!  I  don't  Joe,  I  know  you  wouldn't,  lie  to  me,  but  it  all 
seems  so  strange,  (to  CHARLEY)  Is  there  really  so  much  difference 
between  the  East  and  the  West,  Charley? 

Chas'  Ye-.  Xeil,  there  is  a  vast  difference,  you  can  rely  on  all 
that  Joe  tells  you. 

Joe.     Persactly,  them's  the  sentiment*,  thank  ye  Charley. 

Chus.  Well,  1  must  be  moving,  or  I  shall  be  overtaken  by  dark- 
ness— 

Nell.     Are  you  going  away,  Charley? 

Chas.  O  !  only  over  on  the  '"Divide."  I  h<>:ir  that  there  is  a  fellow 
over  there — Maj-T  Dolittle,  I  believe  his  name  is — wants  to  invest,  in 
mining  stock,  and  I  thought  I  might  dispose  of  part  of  my  claim  to 
him  ;  and  Nell,  I  sent  for  my  wite  several  days  ago,  she  may  come 
on  this  evening's  stage,  and  if  she  does,  you  take  care  of  her  until  I 
come  back  in  the  morning. 

Nell.  All  right!  Charley,  you  can  bank  on  me  every  time,  you 
iiet  on  that.  (exit,  CHARLKY,  L.,  2  K. 

Joe.  Them's  the  sentiments,  persactly  jist  to  a  dot,  X  '',  and  I 
lou't  give  a  cuss,  and  there  will  be  another  chance  fer  you  L  •  .iiid  out 
more  about  the  East,  ef  that  gal  comes  here  and  1  'spose  she  will. 
Why  dod  burn  it,  Nell,  ef  you  was  in  the  K:tst,  you'd  git  a  husband 
in  less  than  a  year. 

Nell.  But  I  don't  want  a  husband.  I'd  rather  have  a  friend  that 
I  could  come  and  talk  to  like  you,  Joe.  When  a  fellow  gets  married 
they 'have  to  quarrel  like  Mack  and  his  wife;  they  quarrel  all  tin 
time,  and  of  course  everybody  else  is  the  same. 

Joe.  Not  much  they  ain't.  Xosir!  not  by  a  dod  burned  sight. 
Nell,  say  you  go  bring  old  Joe  a  che\v  of  dog  leg  terbacker.  I've  sot 
here  and  chinned  so  long  to  you  and  Charley,  that  my  mouth's  as 
dry  as  a  brick  yard. 

Nell.  Let's  get  up  some  excitement  over  it,  Joe.  I'll  pitch  coppers 
with  you  to  >ee  whether  1  get  it  lor  you,  or  you  get  it  yourself. 

Joe.  Them's  the  sentiments,  gal,  have  you  got  a  dod  burned  cop- 
per? Old  Joe's  broke,  persactly. 

Nell.     I've  got  the  coppers,  now  then,  head  or  tails? 

Joe.     Heads,  them's  my  sentiments. 

Nell,  (tosses  u)>  pfnny,  they  both  cry  nut,  as  penny  strike*  the  floor} 
You've  lost.  There  Joe,  it's  rolled  down  in  the  cellar. 

Joe.     I'll  go  and  get  the  dod  burned  thin  :. 

(raises  tra^-dour  R.  c.  and  goes  down 

Nell,  (closes  trap-door — laughs)  Ha!  ha!  ha!  Joe,  you  are  my 
prisoner  and  I'm  going  to  keep  you,  too. 

Joe.  (under  stage)  G.d,  you  opi-n  that  dod  burned  trap-door  aud 
let  me.  out. 

Ntll.  No  sir  !  no  sir !  no  sir !  (  dances  off  R.,  2  K.,  tinging)  No  sir  I 
uo  sir !  etc. 

Enter,  MACK  and  GUY,  L.,  2  K.,  they  lean  over  bar. 

Mack.  And  that  was  another  good  scheme,  Guy,  getting  Grey  U 
go  over  on  the  "Divide"  to-niglit.  He  will  be  completely  outof  out 
way  ;  we  have  nothing  to  fear. 

(jruy.  That  is,  fronTGrey,  but  that  nigger,  Ebony,  has  been  fol- 
'owinur  ma  around  all  dav.  he  mav  have  over-heard  some  of  our  coa- 


vergation,  and  he  never  had  any  timp  for  m«»  or  you  either,   Mack. 
He  may  drop  in  on  us  or  tel'  someone  else- 

Mack.  What?  Tvvoot  us  and  afraid  of  that  boy?  Thunderation! 
no,  he  won't  do  anything,  but  let  him  show  himself  around  here 
and  I'll  soon  fix  him. 

Enter,  BELL,  R.,  9  m. 

Bell.    Jerry— 

Mack.  What?  Eavesdropping  again,  (jerks  her  o.)  How  long 
have  you  been  standing  there '(  Don't  study  up  some  lie  now,  tel! 
me  the  truth. 

Bell.     I  haven't  been  eavesdropping.     I  just  come  to— 
Mack.     Shut  up!  didn't  1  tell  you  once  that   1   didn't  propose    to 
have  my  movements  spyed  upon?     I  meant  every  word  1  said.     You 
try  this  sneaking  game  on  me  once  more  and  I'll  find  a  way  to  cure 
you  of  it,  that  you'll  remember. 

Sell.     But  I  wasn't  spying  on  you,  I  came  to  tell  you — 
Mack.     Didn't  I  say  that  i  didn't  want  to  hear  any  of  your  lies? 
Guy.     Let  her  tell  what  she  came  for.  Mack. 

•Mack.     Well  then,  out  with  it,  but  no  lies,  mind.     When  1  e»y  any 
thing  I  mean  it;  now  let's  have  your  story. 
Bell.     I  have  no  story  to  tell — 
Mack.     Just  as  1  thought,  Guy,  she's— 

Beil.  I  came  to  tell  you  that  Charley  Grey's  wife  came  on  the 
stage  a  few  minutes  ago,  and  she  want's  to  know  where  he  is. 

Mack.  Thunderation!  Guy,  that  will — (checks  himself  suddenly} 
you  tell  her  that  Charley's  over  on  the  "Divide"  and  won't  be  back 
till  morning;  you  keep  her  here  till  Charley  comes  back.  Now  go — 
you  are  noi  wanted  here,  do  you  understand  ? 

Bell,  (turning)  You  may  see  the  time  Jerry,  when  you'il  want 
me — 

Mack.  Shut  up  and  get  out  here,  or  (raites  hand)  I'll  spoil  your 
beauty.  ^exit,  BKLL,  R. 

Guy.  Mack,  if  Charley's  wife  has  come,  we  will  have  to  drop  our 
litile  excursion  to-night. 

Mack.  No!  we  will  finish  our  arrangements  right  now  and  be  off. 
I'll  watch  outside  the  cabin  and  you  can  go  in  and  get  the  gold. 

Guy.  You'll  do  nothing  of  the  kind,  Mr.  Jerry  Mack,  we  will  both 
go  in  after  the  gold. 

Mack.  Well  then,  if  I  do  that  and  there  is  two  thousand,  I'll  take 
twelve  hundred — 

Guy.  I  diller  from  you  there,  too,  we  will  share  equally  or  not  at 
all.  Understand  that? 

Mack.    Didn't  1  tind  out  about  the  gold  and  didn't  I  lay  all  of  the 
plans?     I- say  I'll  have  twelve  hundred  of  it. 
Guy.     And  I  say  you'll  not,  Mr.  John  Sands. 
Muck,     (startled)     Thunderation !  what  do  you  mean? 

(hand  to  pocket 

Guy.  (presents  revolver)  Just  what  I  say!  Take  that  hand  away 
from  your  pocket,  or  you  are  a  dead  man.  Mack,  you  dropped  a 
paper  out  on  the  street  and  I  found  it.  Listen  and  I  will  read  it  to 
you:  (reads)  "Louisville,  K'y.,  Aug.  27,  1858,  I,  John  Sands,  do 
hereby  agree  to  work  tor  Major  Frank  Dolittle,  in  the  capacity  of 
oter&eer  of  slaves  in  the  tobacco  fields  during  the  summer  s«aaoni. 


CLAIM 

and  in  the  tobacco  sheds  during  the  winter  seasons,  for  which  ser- 
vices 1  am  to  receive  the  gum  of  $50  per  month — payable  monthly. 
Signed  John  Sands."  There  Mr.  John  Sands,  alias  Jerry  Mack, 
\\h-it  do  you  say  to  that? 

Jfack.     It's  a  lie,  an  infernal  lie. 

&uy.  Listen  to  what  i.s  written  on  th«  back :  (reads)  "Nov.  16, 
1858,  1  have  this  day  stolen  two  hundred  dollars  from  Dolittle;  think 
we  are  even  now."  That'.*  another  lie  is  it?  Thief,  slave  driver, 
nigger  whipper.  (L.  c. 

Mack.     Curse  you  Guy  Lester !  (tries  to  draw  revolver 

(  JOB  pushes  up  trap-door  and  springs  on  stage,  presents  two  pistols. 

Joe.  Don't  pull  boys,  fer  I've  got  the  drop  on  ye — persactly. 
Th«m's  nay  sentiments  and  I  don't  jrive  :>.  cuss. 

PICTURE— SLOW  CURTAIN. 

END   OF    ACT   I. 


ACT  II. 

RGENE  I. — Interior  of  MACK'S  house.     BKM.  and  NBM,  seated  l»  c., 

Hdl.  Nell,  1  don't  see  how  1  am' to  stsiud  this  any  longer,  this  lift- 
is  worse  than  a  prison.  He  threatened  to  strike  me  to-day.  I  don'i 
know  wiiat  to  do  or  which  way  to  turn. 

Nell.  1  know  what  I'd  do,  I'd  scratch  his  eyes  out,  if  I  was  in 
your  phice.  I'd  leave  him,  that's  what  I'd  do  and  you  can  bet  your 
1 1  ust  on  that. 

Uell.  If  I  was  to  leave,  he  would  follow  me  and  bring  me  buck, 
i lien  my  life  would  be  ten  times  worse  than  it  is  now.  No!  that 
would  never  do,  Nell. 

Nell.  Then  I'd  get  a  pick  nandle  and  smash  that  cast  iron  skull  of 
Ills.  There,  how  does  that  "pointer"  suit  you? 

Hell.     O!  Nell!  Nell! 

Nell.  Well  then,  if  you  don't  like  that,  here's  another  way;  shake 
him  the  box  for  the  drinks  and  put  some  arsenic  in  his — 

Bell.     Why  Nell!  you  wouldn't  kill  him.  would  you? 

Nell.  You  just  bet  I  would  or  iny  other  man,  if  he  treated  me 
like  Jerry  Mack  treats  you,  of  course  I'd  kill  him.  Why  not? 

Bell.  O!  Nell!  Nell »  this  wild,  rough  life  is  ruining  you  the 
same  as  it  is  me.  If  we  coukl  only  go  away  from  it  all,  far  awav, 
where  we  would  never  see  or  hear  anything  that  would  make  mi- 
think  of  my  unhappy  past,  where  you  could  be  in  school,  and  away 
from  this  evil  influence  and  as.-oci:it*-s.  If  we  could  only  be  where 
there  i^  culture  and  refinement.  O!  Nell,  this  life  is  killing  me;  we 
shall  yet  see  a  tragic  ending,  tor  I  am  sure  that  Jerry  is  not  getting 
all  of  his  money  honestly.  What  if  he  is  a  highway-man,  and  il  hu 
is  found  out;  think  of  the  disgrace,  Nell. 

Ebony,     (out  L.,  sings)     "I  carry  my  shop  upon  my  back." 

EBONY  rushes  in  L.,  1  B. 

Bay  dar  Nell,  kin  you  tell — (sees  BULL)  I  golly,  you  look*  white  u 
chalk,  what's  de  matter — tick? 


t6  CLAIM   \7XKTY-S1J[. 

Bell.     No!  Ebonr,  I'm  not  sick,  I  have  a  headache,  that's  all. 

(exit,  R.,  2  B. 

Ebony,  (looking  R.,  2  E.)  I-nol-ly  ef  dat  'oman  ain't  sick,  den  I 
hope  I'll  never  shine  another  shoe,  (to  NELL)  Say,  kin  you  done 
tole  me  where  boss  Charley  am  ? 

Nell.  Why,  he's  gone  over  on  the  "Divide;"  what  do  you  want 
with  him  ? 

Ebony.  'Pears  to  me  you'se  mi'ty  'quisitive,  but  I'll  done  tell  yer, 
'cause  your  a  friend  of  mine.  Dat  ar'  snake,  dat  ar'  dumed  copper 
head,  dat  ar"  rattle  snake — 

Nell.  Oh!  wind  up  and  start  over,  niggers  can't  talk  no  how. 
What  are  you  trying  to  say  ? 

Ebony.  Why,  I  was  goin'  down  de  street  awhile  ago  and  I  seed 
dat  ar'  dumed,  onery,  prairie  dog,  water  mocasin.  I  golly  1 

Nell.     Well,  why  don't  you  say  it? 

Ebony.  Dat  ar'  dumed  sneak  Guy  Lester  agoin'  down  de  street 
HI  d  a  talkin'  to  hisselt,  likes  if  he  was  interested — 

Nell.  Well,  he's  got  a  right  to  talk  to  himself  if  he  wants  too. 
Let  him  talk,  tain't  none  of  your  business,  you  haven't  any  right  to 
flop  him. 

Ebony.  But — but—  but  golly  Neil,  he  said  as  how,  if  Charley  was 
gone  he'd — he'd — fo'  de  good  Lord  sake,  Nell,  if  boss  Charley's  gone, 
he's  goin'  to  steal  all  his  dust  to-night. 

Nell.     What!  are  you  sure?  (grabs  EBONY  and  shakes  him 

Ebony.  Well,  do  you  think  I'd  lie  'bout  it?  (cryinj)  Dat's — too 
—much — to — think — dat — in — my — best  friend — 'ud  think — 1M— I'd 
— I — I — lie — bobo — 'uout  dat.  (coat  sleeve  act 

Nell.  Well,  you  can  bet  all  of  your  dust  on  one  tiling,  Nell  will 
be  on  deck  to-night. 

Ebony,  (brightening  up)  I'll  bet  all  de  bristles  out'en  my  shine 
crush,  I'll  be  dar  too,  and  I'll  be  armed  to  de  teeth  too,  I  golly. 

(exit,  L.,  1  B. 

Enter,  BELL,  B.  ,  2  m, 

Bell.  Has  Ebony  gone,  Nell?  What  did  he  want?  O!  he  gave 
me  BiH-h  a  shock,  I  was  almost  sure  he  had  come  to  tell  me  something 
about  Jerry— 

Enter,  MACK,  L.,  2  B, 

Mack.  Seems  to  me  you  are  putting  yourself  to  a  great  deal  of 
trouble  on  my  account — I'll  tell  you  o  ie  thing,  Jerry  is  able  to  take 
care  of  himself — now  get  out  of  here,  I  want  to  use  this  room  awhile. 

Bell.  Has  it  come  to  this,  that  you  order  me  from  my  own  room, 
after  all  that — 

J/ac/f.  What !  n<<r,  gone  yet?  Get  out  of  here — go  to  the  kitchen 
where  you  belong.  Don't  stand  there  staring  at  me  likt:  a  big  wax 
doll— go!  or  I'll—  (raises  hand 

Nell.  Jerry  M.-.ck,  yon  strike  her  and  I'll  save  the  Regulators  a 
job.  Do  yoa  understand  that?  (exit,  BELL,  R.,  2  E.,  slowly 

Mack.  You  and  Bell  have  got  a  fitof  the  sulks.  I  am  able  to  run 
my  own  house  yet  awhile;  now  get  out  of  here,  I  want  this  room — 
get  1  say. 

Nell.    Jerrv  Mack,  you  (to  to  thunder,  I  am  not  your  wife. 


CLAIM  NINETY-SIX.  F 

intnks  out  L.,  2  K.)  yon  can't  order  me  around  you  old  buzzard,  y»i» 
can  bet  your  dust  on  that. 

EBONY  sneaks  in  from  *.,  2  m. 
Ebony,     (c.)     I  golly. 
SCENE  II. — Street  scene.     Lights  down. 

Mack,  (c.)  Thunderation!  I'd  rather  stand  up  to  a  square 
shouldered  fight  any  time  than  be  whipped  by  a  woman's  tongue. 
Cus-  'em.  Bell  has  got  a  lit  of  the  suiks  and  Nell  is  full  of  her  high- 
toned  notions.  Somebody  is  muddling  with  my  affairs,  and  I  believe 
it's  Sacramento  Joe;  the  old  fool  will  set  and  talk  all  day.  If  I  flnil 
out  that  it  is  him,  I'll  learn  him  a  lesson  that  he  won't  forget  in  a 
hurry.  I'd  give  something  to  know  who  he  is  and  where  he  came 
from,  l>ut  he  is  as  close  as  an  oyster,  when  it  comes  to  talking  about 
himself.  Luck  is  running  against  me  lately,  but  it  may  come  my 
way  again.  Thunder!  what  a  foolish  trick  it  was  in  me,  pulling 
those  papers  out  of  my  pocket  on  the  str  et;  the  way  mv  luck  has 
heen  late  y,  I  might  have  known  that  I  would  lose  something,  or — i 
well  there's  no  use  in  crying  over  spilled  milk;  I  dropped  the  pap^r 
and  Lester  found  it,  aud  now  I  am  in  his  power  and  I  suppose  he 
will— 

Enter,  GUY,  R.,  1  a.  . 

Guy.  Use  that  power?  You  just  bet  your  life  I  will,  Mr.  "nig- 
ger-wblpper"  John  Sands. 

Mack.  Letter,  don't  kick  a  man  when  he  is  down.  You  have 
learned  my  secret  and  you  can  send  me  back  East  and  have  me  Im- 
prisoned i;  you  want  to,  I  am  at  your  mercy,  but  as  far  as  m«  bein^ 
a  "niuger-whipper"  you  needn't  throw  that  in  my  teeth.  I  worked 
— or  whipped  slaves — for  so  much  money — 

Guy.  Anil  if  yon  didn't  have  money  enough,  you  stole  what  you 
thought  you  needed.  Is  that  what  you  mean? 

Made.  Being  a  slave  driver  is  nothing  dishonorable,  or  wasn't  be- 
fore slavery  was  abolished — but  counterfeiting  — 

Guy.  Is  about  as  dishonorable  as  going  to  a  miner's  cabin  and 
stealing  his  dust.  Eh!. Mack? 

Mack.  Suppose  the  government  finds  out  we  are  in  the  green 
goods  busine-s,  who  will  serve  the  longest  term,  you  or  I? 

Guy.  Lock  here  MM  "k,  ju-t  because!  happened  to  tin  1  out  a  *ecret 
or  your  past  life,  it's  no  reason  we  should  not  still  be  friend-.;  we 
can't  ati'ord  to  be  enemies,  here's  my  ban  '.,  I  am  wi.ling  to  be  just  as 
we  have  been  in  the  pa>t.  Come,  what  do  you  say  ? 

Muck.     \\e  will  be  friends,  Guy.  (they  shake  hands 

Guy.  Oh !  glad  to  hear  you  say  that.  I  don't  like  to  mak  enemies, 
MacK,  1  have  too  many  of  them  now.  I  spoke  hastily  awhile  ago — 
we  are  all  apt  to  do  that  you  know,  when  we  are  a  lutle  out  of  humor 
— i  ask  your  pardon? 

Mack.  1  spoke  rather  hasty  myself,  Guy,  so  I  guess  we  are  about 
even  on  that  score — but  this  business  we  i>ad  planned  out  for  to- 
night, ahout  Grey's  du^t,  are  we  to  drop  that  or  not? 

Guy.  By  no  means,  if  everything  IB  ail  in  shape,  why  not  carry 
out  our  plans? 

Kuc*.     That  suits  me,  and  as  it  Is  near  eleven  now.  let's  start  al 


it  CLAIM  NiyETT-8IX. 

once  —  Toomsfone  seem-;  unusually  quiet  to-night,  I  wonder  what 
can  be  the  cause?  Here  (hands  mask)  put  that  on,  we  may  meet 
some  one  and  we  better  keep  on  the  safe  side. 

Ghty.  Ah  !  Mack,  those  masks  are  a  good  idea,  they  may  save  us  a 
great  denl  of  trouble.  (put  on  masks 

Mack.     Now  then,  are  you  armed? 

Guy.     Yes,  I  always  ana. 

Mack.     Then  come  on.  (exeunt,  L. 

Enter,  NBXL,  R.,  1  «.,  rifle  in  hand. 

Nell.  Ah  !  you  old  stick  in  the  mud.  (points  L.)  I'm  after  yon. 
don't  think  that  Charley  Grey's  dust  is  lying  around  loose  just  be- 
cause Charley  isn't  here  to  protect  it.  If  I  don't  give  you  a  surprise 
to-night,  my  name  ain't  Xell.  (exit,  L. 

inter,   EBONY,  *.,   1   B..  cautiously  and  badly  scared;  lights    down 

gradually. 

Ebony.  Golly  !  I'd  rather  sleep  to-night  dan  look  fer  thieves,  but 
boss  Charley's  dost  getter  be  perfected  and  I'm  de  feller  what  can  do 
it.  (looks  L.,  trembling)  Golly!  what  am  dat?  I  wish  I  hadn't 
<•<  me,  I  allers  get  sick  when  I'm  by  myself  after  night,  (slight  noise 
i;.)  Boas,  am  dnt  you?  Golly!  I  wish  I  hadn't  come,  (nervous  — 
gun  discharged  off  R.)  Fo'  de  good  Lo'd  sake;  (drop*  on  knees)  now 
I  lay  me  down  ter  —  ter  —  ter  —  now  I  lay  me  down—  down  —  I  golly 
dis  child  is  hoo-dood  sho',  now  I  lay  me  —  (looks  R.  )  lay  me  —  lay  me 
—  (looks  over  shoulder.  etc.—  -business)  don't  believe  it  was  anvrhing 
after  all.  (noise  I..,  hands  up  —  works  mouth  —  says  nothing 

Nell,     (out  L.,  calls  softly)     Ebony! 

Ebony,  (raises  quickly)  I  golly.  Mis*  Nell  dat  you  ?  Dis  child's 
glad  to  see  you,  I  tells  you.  (bravely)  Jerry  Mack,  de  avenger  am 
on  yer  track,  (flourishes  white-wash  brush)  Hi!  dare  Miss  Nell,  I 
golly,  wait  for  dis  chile.  (run*  out  Y..,  1  E. 

Enter,  JOB,  K  K. 

Joe.  Tell,  of  all  the  goin's  on  in  Toormtone  that  I've  seed  fer 
dome  time  dod  burn  my  tarnal  eyesight;  if  this  don't  beat  me.  Here 
1  find  Nell  out  on  the  street  with  her  rifle,  likes  if  she  was  a  lookiu' 
ter  some  one,  and  that  little  speciman  of  Africa  follerin'  Ions;  after 
her,  and  hero  it's  almost  midnight.  Wonder  what  they  are  after. 
I  think  I'll  kinder  hang  around  awhile  and  see,  and  ef  there's  a 
ecimmage  comes  up,  whv  dod  burned  ef  old  Joe  don't  take  a  hand 
in  it.  Them's  mv  sentiments  persactly,  and  I  don't  give  a  cuss.  I 
\vi<h  I  had  a  chaw  of  dogleg  tobacker  ter  keep  me  company,  but  dod 
burn  the  difference,  here  goes  fer  finden  out  what  these  •'cur'os''  pro- 
ceediu's  mean.  Them's  nay  sentiments  Jist  ter  a  dod,  and  I  don't 
give  a  cuss.  (exit,  L.,  1  B. 

SCENE  777.—  CHARLEY  GREY'S  Cabin. 
Enter,  MACK  and  GUY  cautiously  with  dark  lantern  —  looks  around,  ete. 


It's  all  rijlit  old  man,  no  one  there  and  no  one  has  seen  m, 
»ow  let's  hustle  and  get  the  dust  and  be  off. 


CLAIM  XISETY-S1X.  ™ 

Guy.  I'm  your  man  for  the  dust.  Where  do  you  suppose  he  h  as 
it  hid? 

Mack.  It's  in  one  corner  of  his  cabin,  I  don't  know  which  one, 
you  look  in  one  and  I'll  look  in  the  other. 

Guy.  All  right,  keep  your  eyes  peeled  now,  we  don't  want  any- 
one to  slip  up  on  us. 

Mack.  I'll  keep  a  sharp  look  out  and  you  do  the  same.  (MACK  L., 
on  knees,  Gur  R.,  ou  knees,  they  search.  Business  as  lon<j  as  the  au- 
dience will  stand  it)  Thunder!  there's  nothing  here.  (mooes  to  R. 

Guy.     There's  nothing  here  either,     (moves  to  L.)     All! 

Mack.     What's  the  matter;'     Found  anything? 

Guy.     You  bet  1  have.     Mack,  look  here. 

Mack,     (goes  L.  quickly,  kneels  side  of  Gun)     Thunderation. 

Enter,  NELL,  L.,  covers  MACK  and  GUY   wtth  rifle,   £.BONY  sneaks  in 
from  L.,  trembling,  kneels  L.  c. 

Guy.    There's  a  deuced  big  bunch  of  it,  Mack. 

Mack.  Let  me  lift  it  Guy.  (pause)  Thunder!  there's  three 
thousand  if  there'  an  ounce.  We  can't  divide  it  here,  coine  and  let's. 
-ft  out  ot  this — quick  as  possible. 

Guy.     Tuat's  iny  ticket,  we  can't  move  any  too  quick  now. 

(they  rise,  facing  audience 

Nell.  Halt!  (MACK  and  GUY  startled)  Drop  that  dust;  Charley* 
(Irey  is  not  here  to  protect  his  own,  but  his  trien  Is  are.  Throw  up* 
your  hands !  (Guv  and  MACK  make  a  blind  rush  out  R.,  XELL  shouts 

Ebony.    Fo*  Ue  good  Lo'd  sake,  dis  chile  is  gone,  I  golly. 

(exit,  L.,  1  K. 

Enter,  JOE,  i»,  2  E.,  presents  two  revolvers. 

Jot.  Hold  on  thare  my  beauty,  drop  that  shootin' iron;  (NBLL 
lowers  rifle)  throw  up  two  hands.  ( 5»  ELL  facts  J  OK)  What?  doil 
burn  my  tarnal  eye&ight;  Nell!  you  here  in  Oharley  Grey's  cabin  at 
midiiigiit.  Gal,  what  does  this  mean? 

Nell.  They  were  going  topical  Charley's  dust,  (points  R.)  See! 
1  \\a-  just  in  time  to  keep  them  from  carrying  it  away. 

Joe.  Nell,  you've  got  the  grit,  dod  burned  ef  you  ain't,  pat  her 
ihar'  gal;  (hand  out)  Joe's  yer  triend.  You've  got  a  heart  bigger 
than  a  salt  ban-el*  Them's  my  sentiment*  pei  sactly,  and  1  don't  give 
a  cuss. 

QUICK  CURTAIN, 

OF  ACT  O, 


ACT  IIL 

*CE.\'E  I. — BRANDON'S  room*,  ARTHUR  seated  i.,   MRS.  BXAXDON 

seated  L.  c. 

Mrs.  Brandon.  What  is  the  matter  with  you  this  morning,  Arthur, 
you  seem  more  descendant  than  ever.  1  have  noticed  of  late  that 
you  were  worrying  yourself  over  somethi'ii;-;  yuii  must  quit  that,  or 
you  will  certainly  make  yourself  ill.  Is  it  business  troubla 


»»  CLAIM 

bothering  you?     Come  confide  in  me,  tell  me  what  you  are  studying 
about. 

Arthur.     I  was  thinking  about  you,  Julia. 
Mrs.  B.     About  me,  and  what  about  me? 

Arthur.  O!  this  country  is  so  will  and  rough,  I  have  been  think- 
ing that  it  would  be  better  lor  you — tor  us  both,  if  w«  were  back  at 
the  old  home.  Just  think,  there  is  hardly  a  day  passes  here  in 
Toomstone  without  a  quarrel  or  a  flght  taking  place,  and  often  re- 
sulting fatally. 

Mm.  y ...  But  we  have  not  don«  what  we  came  here  to  do ;  you 
lorget— 

Arthur.  Forget?  No!  Julia,  I  wish  I  could  forget.  I  have  worked 
hard  with  the  one  idea  in  view,  and  that  to  forget,  but  1  have  failed, 
I  can  never  forget.  It  is  true  that  we  have  established  nothing, 
neither  will  we. 

Mn.  B.  But  the  anonymous  letters  we  received,  saying  that  we 
could  learn  something  of  the  lost  by  coming  here.  Have  you  lost 
faith  in  them  ? 

Arthur.  Haven't  we  been  here  in  Toomstone  a  year?  And  what 
have  we  learned?  .Nothing,  absolutely  nothing.  The  child  is  dead, 
long  ere  this.  How  many  times  have  1  lain  awake  the  entire  night, 
studying  and  brooding  over  the  case.  No!  Julia,  the  child  is  dead. 
Mrt.  B.  1  have  tried  to  bring  myself  to  th.u  belief,  but  I  can  not. 
1  think  that  those  anonymous  letters  did  mean  something.  I  feel 
that  we  shall  yet  see  our  child  and  be  proud  ot  her. 

Arthur.  Don't  delude  yourself  with  that  idea,  Julia ;  don't  cherish 
that  hope,  for  'tis  vain — useless. 

!     Mrs.  B.    Arthur,  do  you  know  that  tiiisis  her  birthday,  that  seven- 
teen years  ago  to-night  .-be  was  stolen  from  us? 

Arthur.  Do  I  remember ?  Oh!  only  too  well.  Seventeen  long 
miserable  years,  seventeen  bleak,  cheerless  birthdays;  if  she  was  liv- 
ing to-day,  she  would  be  nineteen.  What  suspense  for  a  father — 
(looks  at  JULIAJ  for  a  mother  to  be  in.  (walks  stage)  Yes,  seventeen 
years  ago  to-night,  our  child — Grade — was  stolen  from  us,  merely 
for  revenge.  What  a  fiend  a  man  must  be  who  will  seek  revenge 
by- 

Mrs.  B.  No!  do  not  think  that  Arthur,  she  was  carried  away  by 
a  roving  band  of  Indians,  which  passed  near  us  on  that  night. 
Everything  went  to  prove  that  she  was  lost,  seen  wandering  towards 
the  camp  of  the  Indians.  1  do  not  think  that  Fred  EKlair— 

Arthur.  Fred  Eldair  was  a  man  who  would  -top  at  no  hing,  Julia, 
when  once  his  passion  was  aroused.  When  I  detected  him  iu  steal- 
ing money  from  me,  he  swore  to  be  revenged  upon  me.  A  grea:. 
many  men  would  have  bad  him  imprisoned,  but  he  was  young  i-heu 
and  that  was  his  first  offense — he  promised  tne  to  lead  an  upright  and 
honest  life,  and  on  that  promise  I  let  him  go.  I  can't  help  but  think 
that  lie  is  the  one  who  stole  our  child. 

Mrs.  B.  'Tis  true  that  he  disappeared  at  the  same  time  Gracie 
did,  but  that  proves  nothing  against  him.  I  am  sure  it  was  the  In- 
dians who  carried  her  off. 

Arthur.    Perhaps  you  are  right,    I  hopa  you  are.     I  don't  like  to 

wrong  any  man,  but  why  has  he  kept  himself  hidden  all  th"se  years  ? 

Mrs.  B.     Why  uncover  the  past?     Let  us  strive  to  make  ita blank, 

do  not  re-call  those  old  memories,  we  have  ourselves  left,    we  will 

not  grieve  tor  our  child,  but  think  she  is  better  off. 

Arthur.     O!  Julia,  what  a  comiorter  you  are.     If  it  had  not  bean 


CLAIM  fTINKTT-RTX.  H 

for  ron,  I  believe  I  shonld  have  gone  tiad  !<Mig  a?°-  ^e  have  our- 
selves left,  we  will  live  for  one  another  and  think  that  nil  i«  for  the 
best.  {'.sit.  MRS.  BRANDOS 

Enter,  BESSIE  GREY,  ».,  1  B. 

Bessie.     Mr.  Arthur  Brandon? 

Arthur.     That  is  my  name — can  I  be  of  service  to  yoa? 

Bessie.     Y»u  ;ire  the  banker  of  Toomstone ? 

Arthur.  1  can  hardly  be  called  a  banker;  hovrever,  I  do  some 
banking  business  here  merely  to  accommodate  tbe  miners. 

(both  tit  at  tabU 

Bessie.     We  are  alone,  I  presume? 

Arthur.     We  are — please  state  your  business. 

B'-Sfie.  My  name  is  Bessie  Grey — I  am  Charley  Grey's  wife — I 
arrived  here  in  Toarastone  last  evening,  ami  as  Charley  was  over  on 
the  "Divide,"  I  stayed  at  the  "Gold  Dust  Hotel."  Every  one  in 
Toomstone,  was  wild  over  the  news  that  Charley  had  struck  it  rich, 
that  "Claim  96"  was  likely  to  prove  the  most  valuable  mine  iu  this 
camp.  Exagented  stories  were  told  of  the  amount  of  dust  Charley 
had  secreted  in  his  cabin. 

Arthur.  Ah !  yes,  I  heard  some  of  the  absurd  stories  myself,  to 
the  ettect  that  Charley  had  gold  dust  piled  upon  the  floor  of  hia  cabin 
a  foot  deep. 

Bessie.  Yes,  that  story  and  a  great  many  others  equally  as  ridic- 
ulous, were  circulated  and  were  really  believed  by  a  number  of 
people  of  Toomstone,  and  last  night,  during  Charley's  absence,  an 
attempt  was  nride  to  ste.-il  his  dust,  but  the  robbera  were  foiled  by 
the  timely  arrival  of  Nell.  Charley  had  hid  his  dust  in  hia  cabin, 
but  he  hadn't  the  amount  chat  people  thought  he  had,  or  anything 
near  it. 

Arthur.  Oh  !  certainly,  the  stories  about  Charley's  good  luck  were 
greatly  exage  rated,  but  the  inhabitants  of  Toomstone  are  ready  to 
lielieve  anything,  if  they  he.ir  the -word  "gold"  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  it. 

7>v«.v<v.  This  morning  Charley  and  I  decided  that  it  would  not  be 
safe  t«  keep  the  dust  in  his  cabin  any  longer,  and  as  we  didn't  want 
anyone  10  know  that  we  had  moved  it,  and  as  I  am  a  stranger  here 
in  Toomstone,  we  decided  that  it  would  he  best  for  me  to  bring  it; 
he  said  that  you  would  put  it  in  your  safe  and  give  me  a  certificate 
of  deposit.  (hand*  ARTHUR  bag  of  gold 

Arthur.-  (takes  dust)  Ob!  certainly,  certainly,  but  as  this  is 
merely  an  accommodation,  I,  of  course,  am  not  responsible — 

Bes'sie.  I  understand  Mr.  Brandon,  but  Charley  has  all  confidence 
in  your  honesty.  • 

Arthur.  Ah !  thank  you— excuse  me,  I  will  lock  the  dust  in  the 
safe.  (exit,  L.,  2  K. 

Bessie.  There  is  one  responsibility  off  of  my  mind,  we  will  out- 
wit the  thieves  of  Toomstone  yet. 

Enter,  GUT,  R.,  1  B.,  looks  around  cautiously;  tee*  BESSIK  and  tlipt 

OUt  B.,  1   E. 

Re-enter,  ARTHUR,  L..  2  B. 
Arthur.     Under  the  circumstances,  Mrs.  Grey,  I  think  that  Charley 


*S 

hap  done  the  best  thin?  he  could  do  by  placing  the  dust  in  my  keep- 
ing, aa  his  life  would  not  be  safe  as  Ions  as  he  had  the  gold  in  his 
possession,  (writes)  Here  is  the  certificate  of  deposit,  (hands  paper] 
and  tell  Charley  that  1  hope  his  prosperity  will  not  be  short  Jived, 
but  will  hold  up  until  he  has  massed  a  comfortable  fortune. 

Bessie,  (risen)  Thank  you  Mr.  Brandon,  and  except  our  thanks 
for  taking  care  of  the  dust  for  us,  for  w*»  appreciate  the  favor— good 
morning. 

Arthur.  Ah!  there's  a  business  woman,  and  she  has  more  refine- 
ment then  I  have  seen  since  coining  to  Toomstone. 

Enter,  GUY,  B.,  1 B. 

Guy.  Ah!  good  morning  Mr.  Brandon;  Lester  is  my  name — Guy 
Lester.  I  suppose  you  know  me  by  sight,  if  not  personally.  I  called 
this  morning  to  ask  you  a  few  questions ;  I  believe  thatC.iarley  Grey 
deposited  some  dust  with  you  this  morning? 

Arthur.  Then  sir!  your  suppositions  are  wrong,  I  have  had  no 
dealings  with  Mr.  Grey  this  morning,  or  at  any  previous  time. 

Quy.    Then  Grey's  wife  deposited  the  dust,  did  she? 

Arthur.  You  are  prying  into  business  that  does  not  concern  you 
sir  I  and  I  decline  to  answer,  go  and  ask  that  lady  herself  if  you  wish 
to  know — I  wish  you  good  morning.  (turns  to  table 

Quy.  (clinches  hands)  Arthur  Brandon,  you'll  see  tue  time  when 
you  will  wish  that  you  had  told  me  what  I  wanted  to  know. 

(exit,  B.,  2  E. 

SCENE  II.— Street. 

Enter,  PETERSOW,  L.  B. 

Peterson.  I  guess  that  would  be  a  tetotal  good  speculation,  if  I 
could  just  find  the  right  man,  I'd  trade  him  two  barrels  of  apple  sass 
tor  a  square  meal,  and  think  I'd  made  a  darned  good  bargain.  I've 
got  to  have  something  to  eat  pretty  soon,  or  I'll  blow  away,  or  wilt 
right  down  like  a  cabbage  leaf  in  July.  I'm  just  like  the  atmosphere 
— one  big  vacium — if  I  was  to  stumble  I'd  break  into  corn  stalks  and 
bean  poles;  hut  I'd  just  like  to  see  how  much  grub  I  could  store 
away.  1  feel  just  perpendicularlly  flabergasted,  tetotal ly  so.  If 
things  don't  change  for  the  better  soon,  I  guess  1  will  borrow  six 
pence,  buy  a  rope  and  hang  myself.  If  I  don't  get  sometnin^  to  eat 
before  another  week  rolls  around,  there  won't  be  enough  of  me  left 
to  make  a  grease  spot.  I'd  like  to  put  my  feet  under  some  man's 
table,  if  1  wouldn't  make  a  tetotal  cleaning.  I  swear  I'd  split  up 
the  table  legs  for  tooth  picks. 

Enter,  EBONT,  B.  B. 

Ebony.  Black  yere  boots,  shine  'em  up.  Hello !  dar,  you  don't 
look  like  you'd  seen  pay  dirt  fer  sometime. 

Peterson.  Say,  boy,  boy,  go  way,  don't  talk  tome.  1  am  offering 
more  inducements  now,  for  a  square  meal,  than  any  other  living 
man.  1  offer  two  barrels  of  apple  sass  tor  a  good  dinner. 

Ehony.     Are  you  hungry  ? 

Peterson.  Hungry?  Boy,  if  1  don't  get  something  to  eat  soon, 
I'll  be  a  tetotal  wieck. 


CLAIM  XIXETY-SIX.  *» 

Ebony.  You  ort  to  been  with  me  awhile  a?o,  bo-s,  I  had  de  finest 
dinner,  roast  duck,  roast  turkey,  roas>  ir.1"^,  roast  everything. 

Peterson.     Ah  !  boy,  boy,  boy.  (in  agony 

Ebony.     And  all  kinds  of  vegetables,  roast  vegetables. 

Peterson.     What  a  tetotal  good  dinner  that  was,  wasn't  it? 

Ebony.     You  bet!  and  we  bad  pie  and  cake. 

Peterson.  Say  boy,  where  did  you  eat  that  dinner?  Was  there 
any  scraps  left  ? 

Ebony.     Yes,  but  dey  done  throwed  'em  out  to  de  chickens. 

Peterson.  Say,  you  take  uie  down  there  and  I'll  piok  around 
awhile  anyway. 

Ebony..  What  will  you  {rive  me  to  told  yer  where  you  can  get  a 
good  dinner? 

Peterson.  I've  got  tour  barrels  of  apple  sass  to  home,  the  best 
apple  sass  that  was  ever  made  in  Vermont,  and  I'll  just  be  tetotally 
Dizzied  if  I  don't  give  you  a  whole  barrel  of  that  apple  gas»,  if  you 
will  help  me  to  get  a  square — rectangular — parolelogranical  meal. 
There  now,  ain't  that  fair? 

Ebony.  Well  i.ow,  here's  de  way  for  you  to  get  de  dinner — -you 
£0  down  to  de  "Gold  Dust  Hotel"  and  tell  old  Mack,  dat  Charley 
Urey  clone  give  you  a  paper  fer  to  carry  to  his  wife,  and  if  he  will 
.rive  .you  a  square  uieal  you'll  done  give  him  de  paper,  and  I'll  be1. 
<il  de  bristles  outen  my  shoe  brush,  you  git's  de  grub.  (exit,  L. 

Peterson.  Now  that's  what  I  call  a  tetotally  perpendicular  go«d 
speculation ;  here  goes  for  the  grub.  (start,  it. 

Enter,  BESSIE,  B.  B.,  meets  PETERSON,  K.  o. 

Peterson.  Say  female,  I  am  just  about  flabergasted,  and  I'd  be  te- 
lotally  obliged  to  you  lor  a  little  information.  Can  you  tell  me — 

Bessii:.     (snapishly)     No!  1  can't — I'm  no  guide  post.        (exit,  L. 

Peterson,  (looks  after  her)  Squashed !  tetotally,  I  guess  I'll  walk 
an.  '  (exit,  R. 

SCEXJS  ///.—MACK'S  tmloon— MACK  and  GUY  at  kar. 

Guy.  1  tell  you  Mack,  that  was  a  narrow  escape  for  us  both,  I 
beard  that  bullet  sing  as  it  passed  my  ear,  and  when  IseenXell  rai&e 
her  rifle,  I  thought  it  would  be  "all  day"  with  one  of  us  any  way, 
tor  you  know  sfie  is  a  dead  sure  shot. 

J/ccA:.  Yon  bet  I  do,  Guy,  and  when  I  looked  around  and  seen 
her  standing  there  with  her  rifle  at  h^r shoulder,  I  would  hare  taken 
two  cents  tor  my  obances  of  life  and  thought  I  was  making  big  money. 
I  tell  you  old  man,  it' she  had  pulled  an  inch  lower,  I'd  passed  in  my 
checks.  How  do  you  suppose  it  happened  that  she  was  there  any- 
way ''. 

(jaij.  Well,  now  you've  got  me  Mack — I  haven't  the  faintest  sus- 
picion, and  what  do  you  suppose  ever  eau-ed  her  to  miss  that  shot? 
For  you  know  as  well  as  I  do,  that  she  could  have  bit  one  of  us  if  she 
had  wanted  to.  Do  you  think  she  recogni/ed  us,  or  knew  that  we 
were  going  to  Grey's  cabin  after  his  dust? 

Mm:k.  Thunder!  no,  she  didn't  know  anything  about  it,  and  she 
never  recognized  us  either — she  couldn't — for  you  know  we  had  out 
masks  on.  She  just  happened  by  (iivy:  cabin  and  beard  us  make  » 
noise  and  came  in  to  see  what  it  was.  But  it  is  a  little  stranse  abou( 


w>  CLJiJ*   VIJTSTT-SIX. 

her  being  thereat  midnight,  isn't  it?     But  then  Nell  is  a  strange 
girl,  she  is  just  as  liable  to  be  in  one  place  as  anoth  -r. 

Guy.  Yes,  and  she  happened  to  be  just  at  the  right  place  to  spoil 
nil  of  our  plans  everytime,  Mack. 

Mack.  Yes,  seems  that  way.  but  we  could  have  got  away  with  the 
dust  th*t  night,  if  you  had  not  dropped  it.  Why  didn't  you  hold  on 
to  it? 

Guy.  Hold  on  to  nothing!  I  tell  yon,  when  I  look  around  and 
see  a  rifle  barrel  pointed  at  me,  with  Nugget  Nell  b-hiud  it,  ami 
Nugget  Nell's  eye  looking  along  the,  barrel  like  this,  (iiniUttt>»)  I'll 
drop  anything;  I  am  not  courting  death  yet  awhile. 

Mack.  Thunder!  but  Neil  did  give  me  a. shock  last  irght.  Honestly, 
I  wouldn't  have  been  any  more  surprised  if  L  had  seen  Charley  Grey 
standing  there. 

Ghiy.    Or  Charley's  wife. 

Mack.     Ah  !  Guy,  there's  a  woman  we've  got  to  watch. 
Guy.     You  are  just  right  we  have  Mick,  and  we  can't  watch  her 
any  too  close  either;  she  is  a  cute  one  I  tell  you. 

Mack.  Yes,  she  can  take  care  ot  herself  and  her  husbind,  and 
three  or  four  other  fellows  like  Grey. 

Guy.  My  opinion  is,  that  if  she  stays  herein  this  camp  for  six 
months,  the  counterfeiter-  of  Toomstone,  will  have  to  "fold  their 
tents  ar-d  gently  steal  away." 

Muck,  (goes  behind  bar)  Here,  (srts  bottle  on  bar)  t;ikf  snrn  :thi>ig. 
we  must  brace  up  some  way — there  is  otlier  work  before  us  yet — 
come  on  and  drink  with  me;  this  isn't  the  best,  but  then — 

Enter,  PETERSON,  R.,  1  B. 

Peterson.  I  guess  I  can  worry  some  of  it  down  and  be  tetotaUy 
obliged  to  you  in  the  bargain.  (  reaches  for  bottle 

Mack,     (jerks  bottle  b'ick)     Don't  get  too  fas:! 

Peterson.     Why  !  ain't  you  going  to  give  me  a  drink? 

Mack.    I  don't  see  that  1  am  under  any  ob"\gaii<>n  to,  sir! 

Peterson.  Now,  that's  what  I  call  down  right,  te.tot-vl  selfishness 
m  you.  Say,  I'll  trade  you  a  half  barrel  "f  ;r>pie  sass  for  a  drink— 

Mack.     No  sir!     1  sell  this  whiskey  for  nnmey. 

Peterson.  Well,  that's  the  same  way  I  sell  my  apple  sass.  Say, 
maybe  you  could  loan  me  ten  dollars  and  take  your  pay  out  in  applf 
«is6.  I've  got  four  barrel  o:  the  best  apple  s.iss — 

Mack.  No  sir!  I  don't  want  to  invest  in  any  app'esiss.  Say,  do 
you  seethatgign?  (points  to  sign  over  but: — "Treat — Trade  t^r  Tr  iveV 

Peterson,  (reads)  "Treat — Trade  or  Travel" — well,  you  won't 
treat  and  I've  offered  you  a  perpendicular  g'jod  trade — now  that 
apple  sass  of  mine  (MACK  and  GUY  talk,  pay  n<j  attention  to  PETERSON) 
can't  be  heat,  I  tell  you,  it  was  made  by  one  of  the  best  cooks  in 
Hillsborough  county,  Vermont — I  mean  Polly  Ann  Spriggins — she 
that  used  to  be  Polly  Ann  Flint  before  she  was  married — her  and  I 
are  kinder  related  like — now  her  father,  old  Jebedil  Flint,  and  my 
mo  Jner's  great  uncle  were  cousins — so  you  see  we  are  bound  together 
by  thetieofeonsingaiuty.  Now  when  Polly  Ann  married  Jeddediah 
•Sprigging — yo  i  see  he  had  been  married  'before,  and  she  was  his 
second  wife.  His  first  wife  was  taken  with  the  cramps  and  went  oil 
kinder  sudden  like — she  ate  thirty-eight  raw  turnips  one  day  and 
l.hey  didn't  agree  vyij,h,  her.  Everybody  said  that  Jeddediah  made  a 


CLAIM 

tetotal  good  speculation  when  he  married  Polly  Ann,  'cause  Jedde- 
diuh  wasn't  worth  nothing.  He  h.-id  forty  acres  o;  the  worst  bind  in 
Vermont.  That  land  wns  so  tetoiul  poor  thai  you  couldn't  raise  a 
disturbance  on  it.  That  farm  was  nothing  but  a  big  bunch  of  sand — 
it  was  a  perpendicular  tine  place  toarour  knives,  though — but  as  I 
was  saying  about  Polly  Ann — (looks  around  an.l  sees  MACK  and  GUY 
are  paying  no  attention  to  him)  squ:i*he<l  tet»tnlly.  (goes  to  table,  sits 
down  and  sets  grip  on  top  oj  table)  Well,  I'm  just  flabergasted,  teto- 
tal y  so.  A  fellow  that's  as  backward  and  bashful  aa  1  am, oughtn't 
to  be  this  far  away  from  home. 

Guy.     (points  to  PETERSON)     What  do  you  call  it,  Mack? 

Mack.  1  don't  know.  I'll  investigate,  (goes  R.  c.)  Say,  who  are 
you  anvway  ? 

Peterson.  I'm  little  Peter  Peterson,  from  Peterville,  Vermont 
I've  got  lour  barrels  of  the  best  apple  sass — 

Mack.     Hold  on!  never  mind  that!     \Vharareyoudoingouthere? 

Peterson.  Come  out  for  my  health,  and  it  I  couid  sell  that  apple 
sass — 

Guy.  Oh  !  let  loose  of  the  "apple  sass,"  you  don't  look  as  if  you 
fou nil  very  much  health. 

Peterson.     No!  the  air  don't  agree  with  me — but  that  apple  sass — 

Muck.    Hold  on !     Say,  did  you  expect  to  live  on  air? 

Peterson.  From  what  I  heard  aboui  this  country,  1'sposed  I  could 
and  keep  teto  ally  fat  too.  If  the  air  had  agreed  with  me,  I  figgei 
t ..at  1  wouM  weigh  a  liitle  over  seven  hundred  pounds  now,  but  as 
it  didn't  agree  with  me,  1  only  weigh  about  forty-two  pounds.  I  am 
otlering  two  whole  barrels  01  apple  sass — 

Guy.  How  much  longer  are  you  going  to  talk  about  that  "apple 
sassr" — 

Peterson.  It's  a  tetotal  No.  1  good  apple  sass,  and  I  can  afford  to 
talk  about  it — now  this  apple  sass  that — 

Mack.    Oh!  hold  on.     S:iy,  what  did  you  come  down  here  for? 

Peterson.  Why,  Charley  Grey  gave  me  a  paper  to  take  to  his  wife, 
and  1  thought,  maybe  you'd  give  me  a  tetotal  goo  1  dinner,  if  I'd  give 
you  the  paper  and  throw  in  some  apple  sass — 

Guy.     .Break  off  the  "apple  sas-" — we  don't  want  the  paper. 

Peterson.  Wouldn't  give  me  the  dinner  if  I  was  to  throw  in  one-' 
half  barrel  of  apple — 

Mack.     No  !  not  if  you  wag  to  throw  in  a  barrel  and  a  half. 

Peterson.  Well,  am  1  to  be  tetotally  swindled  out  of  my  dinner, 
with  all  my  apple  sass  on  hand?  (.MACK  and  Guv  both,  laugh)  This 
ain't  no  laughing  matter.  1  am  growing  desperate,  if  I  don't  «ut 
fcometliing  pretty  so.>n,  I'll  be  a  tetotal  wreck. 

Gaij.     (gets  suck  oj  crackers  behind  bar]     Here,  try  these. 
Peterson,     (takes  sack)    Say,  that  will    make  a  tetotal  rectagular 
kind  of  a  meal,  won't  it?     Now,  if  1  had  gome  of  that  apple  saas. 
Say,  ia  there  any  water  to  go  with  these? 

Guy.     No  sir!  not  a  drop,  you  must  eat  them  dry. 
Peterson.    Well,  I  can  just  do  it.     I'll  eat  the  sack  if  you  say  so. 

(teated 

Enter,  NELL,  R.,  3  K. 
Xdl.     Hello!  Guy.     (sees  PETERSON)     What  have  von  <rat  th«r«» 


96  CLAIM   KINKT7-8IX. 

Ifack.    'Tend  bar  awhile,  Nell;  come  on    Guy,  let's   walk  dowi 
street  and  st-e  if  we  can't  find  Grey.  (exit,  L.,  1  «. 

Quy.     Don't  let  that  !ello\v  have  a  drop  of  water,  Nell. 

(exit,  L.,  1  K. 

Nell.     All  right!  (behind  bar.  idly  throwing  dice 

Peterson.     That's  a  perpendicular  fine  girl.     I  wonder  if  she  haa 
any  objections,  to  matrimony,     (rises  and  leans  against  bur,  facing  tht 
audience — business)     Miss,  there's  something  laboring  on  the  upper- 
part  of  my  disposition,  which  I'd  like  tetotally    well  to    promulgate. 
Nell,     (throwing  dice)    Two  aces  and  a  pair  of  sixes.     Good  throw. 
Peterson,     (aside)     I  don't  seem  to  interest  her.     (aloud)     Miss— 
ahem — Miss. 

Nell.  Well,  what  do  you  want?  You  can't  work  this  bar  for  free 
drinks,  understand  that? 

Peterson.  Say.  don't  you  want  to  buy  four  barrels  of  nice  apple 
sassy  I'll  sell  'em  dirt  cheap. 

Nell.     No!  I  don't.     Say,  why  don't  you  introduce  yourself? 
Peterson.    I  will,  and  when  you  get  acquainted  with  rue,  you'll 
think  I'm  a  tetotal  perpendicular  kind  of  a  fellow  too.     My  name  is 
Peterson — Peter  Ulj'ses  Peterson. 

Nell.     Well  Peterson,  I'll  shake  you  the  box  for  the  drinks. 
Peterson,     i  never  gambled  with  a  girl  before,  but  let  'er  sliver. 
Nell,     (throws  dice)     There,  beat  four  sixes. 

Peterson,  (throws)  Three  fives — say,  that's  the  first  equine  on 
me,  ain't  it? 

Nell.  You  owe  me  ten  cents.  (PETERSON  goes  through  pocket) 
Well,  hurry  up,  give  me  ten  cents,  or  Mack  will  come  in  and  think  i 
am  doing  business  on  credit'. 

Peterson,  (searches  clothes)  Say,  I  ain't  got  ten  cents,  take  it  out 
in  apple  sass,  won't  you  ?  (NKLL  turns  away  disgusted)  Say,  be  y<  u 
engaged? 

Nell.     What? 

1'eterson.     Did  you  ever  experience  the  tender  passion  of  love,  that 
great  pent  up  fire  that  will  glow  and  smoulder  in  spite  of  you,  untu 
you  think  that  you'll  just  tetotally  sizzle? 
Nell.    No! 

Peterson.  Well,  I  have,  I'm  just  tetotally  scorched  into  a  cinder 
now,  and  love  is  the  cause  of  it — say,  you'll  be  pretty  well  ofl'one  of 
these  days,  won't  you? 

Nell.     1  am  pretty  well  off  now. 

Peterson.  Well,  so  am  1 — that  is  to  say,  I  will  be  when  my  aunt 
Hulda  dies.  1  took  an  inventory  of  her  effects  lasc  spring,  and  I 
rind  that  she  has  two  acres  of  land  under  water  in  South  Carolina, 
besides  eighteen  dollars  and  live  cents  in  cash  on  hand,  and  enough 
clothes  to  last  her,  her  natural  lite  time;  that  is,  if  it  ain't  spun  out 
too  tetotal  long.  Now,  1  think  that  it  would  be  a  perpendicular 
good  speculation  for  us — you  and  I — to  hitch  up  and  wade  down  the 
stream  of  lile  together,  don't  you?J 
Nell.  No!  1  don't. 

Peterson.     That  is  to  say,  you  reject  my  suit? 
Nell.     You  don't  call  that  a  suit,  do  you  ? 

Peterson.  I  mean,  that  you  don't  feel  matrimonially  inclined  to- 
ward the  afore  said  Peterson — meaning  me. 

Nell.  No!  1  don't,  when  1  many  I  want  a  man,  not  a  shadow- 
understand  ? 


CLAIM  NINETY-SIX.  *7 

Peterson,  (turns  and  tits  at  table — aside')  Another  speculation 
tetotally  busted  (aloud)  Wouldn't  change  your  mind,  I  reckon,  If 
I  would  throw  in  two  barrels  of  apple  sass? 

Enter,  MACK,  GOT  and  CHARLEY,  L.,  1  and  2  B. 

Mack.  Now  boys,  let's  hustle  and  g--t  up  :i  nice,  quiet  little  gaua<>. 
(feea  PKTEKSOX)  Hello!  you  here  yet?  Didn't  I  show  you  that 
sign  awhile  ago?  (exit,  NELL 

Ptterson.  Well,  I  can't  get  a  trade  out  of  anybody  around  here. 
(to  CHAKLKY)  Could  you  make  me  a  small  loan  on  four  barrels  of 
apple  sass? 

Chas.     No!  I'm  not  dealing  in  "applesass"  now. 

Guy.  Hurry  up  Mack,  and  get  those  chairs  around  that  table  and 
let's  uet  to  work.  (MACK  gets  chair,  etc.,  GUY  goes  behind  bar)  Here 
take,  something,  Charley. 

Chas.     No!  I  never  drink  before  going  into  a  game. 

Peterson.  You  seem  to  be  a  tetotal  perpendicular  kind  ofafellow, 
I'll  drink  with  you.  (steps  up  to  bar,  GUY  puts  bottle  behind  bar  and 
(>•<//.*•»  to  table)  Another  speculation  busted. 

Mack.     All  right,  come  on  boys,  sit  down. 

(they  ait  down — business 

Chas.     Go  on  and  deal,  Mack.  (MACK  deils 

Peterson.     Wait!  wait!  svhere's  my  chair?     I'm  in  that  game. 

Guy.     You  are  not  going  to  play  in  this  game. 

Peterson.     Yes,  I  am  too.  (kneels  side  o/  table 

Mack.     All  right  boys,  there's  your  cards. 

Peterson.  Wait !  wait !  Where's  my  crackers  ?  ( (joes  and  gets  them 
'iff  bar  and  gets  chair)  Here  goes  for  a  tetotal  speculation. 

Mack.     Well,  what  are  you  doing? 

Guy.     1  stay. 

Chas.     I  see  you  myself. 

Mack.     Well,  I  am  along  with  you  boys. 

Peterson.  You  seem  to  be  a  perpendicular  kind  of  a  crowd,  I  guess 
l-'ll  stay  too. 

Mack.     Cards? 

Guy.    Give  me  the  three  cards  on  top. 

Chas.     Burry  that  top  one,  Mack,  and  give  me  two. 

Peterson.     Give  me  three  more  kings,  I've  got  one. 

Guy.  Hold  ou  there!  you  haven't  discarded  yet;  waitMack,  how 
many  are  you  going  to  throw  away? 

Peterson.     Four,  the  others  are  all  three  spots,  1  don't  want  them. 

Chas.     Give  him  four  cards,  Mack — now  then. 

Guy.     Well,  I'll  chance  five  dollars  any  way. 

Chas.     I  have  a  pretty  good  hand,  I  raise  you  five. 

Mack.     I  pass  out. 

Peterson.     I  bet  a  barrel  of  apple  sass — 

Guy.     Hold  on  !  this  game  is  for  money,  only. 

Peterson.     So  is  my  apple  sass. 

Mack.     You've  got  to  bet  money  if  you  play  in  this  game. 

Peterson.     Well,  then  I  bet  live. 

Guy.     All  right,  I  call  you. 

Chas.     I've  got  three  queens. 

Mack.     ThundrrationI 

Guy.     They  are  not  large  enough,  I  have  four  aces. 


Petenon.     I've  won  the  money  !  I've  won  the  money  !     (jumps  up 
Guy.     What  have  you  got? 

Peterson.     I've  2<n  three  pair?— twoduces,  two  fives  and  two  Jacks. 
Guy.     That  hand's  no  irood,  you've  got  t<M   many  cards,  you  did 
not  discard  enough.     You  owe  me  ten  dollars. 
Peterson.     How  much? 
tiuy.     Ten  dollars. 
Peterson.     What  for? 

Guy.  Why !  for  this  hand  that  we  just  played.  Come,  hand  It 
over. 

Peterson.  Say,  I'm  tetotally  broke;  take  it  out  in  apple  sass,  won't 
you?  How  much  did  he  loo.se.  (points  to  CHARLEY 

Mack.     Why,  he  lost  ten  dollars. 

Peterson.     How  much  did  he  loose?  (points  to  MACK 

Guy.     Why.  h"  parsed  out. 

Peterson.     Well,  why  the  tetotal  thunder,  didn't  I  puss  out? 
Mack,     (prestnts  revolver)     That's  what  you  are  g«ing  to  do  right 
/»ow. 

Peter$on.     (steps  back)     Hold  on  !  hold   on !    I'll   leave.     I'll  pass 
out.     (points  East)     Is  that  the  way  to  Vermont? 
Mack.     Yes  sir !  that's  the  way  to  Vermont. 
Peterson.     Hillsboi-ough  county  ? 
Mack.    Yes ! 
Peterson.     Pete  rsh  u  r^h  ? 
Mack.     Yes  sir!  now  you  get! 

Peterson.     That's  where  I  am  going—  Petersburg.  Hillsborough 
Bounty,  Vermont.     If  you  ever  need  unv  of  my  apple  sass — 
Guy.    O!  kill  him  Hack,  why  don't  you  shoot  him? 
Peterson.     Theie's  another  speculation  busted — -ay,  that  will  be  a 
tetotal  nice  little  walk  over  to  Vermont,  w  >h't  it? 
Mack,     (starts  fur  him]     Say,  are  you  going,  or — 
Peterson.     I'm  going.     Good-by  boys,  good-by.     (exit,  L.,  slowly 
Mack.    That  fellow  is  the  hardest  one  to  get  rid  of,  I've  seen  lor 
some  time. 

Chat.     Why  didn't  you  kick  him  out  a  long  time  ago,  Mack? 
Guy.    That's  a  game  that  two  can  play  at,  and  he  is  about  a»  big 
u  Mack  is — MacU  don't  take  no  risks,  do  you  Mack? 
Mack.    Let's  get  to  work  boys  and  finish  this  game. 

(chairs  to  table,  all  »eated 

Enter,  PETERSON,  L.  «. 

Peterson.  Say,  do  you  know  of  any  one  else  that  Tvr.nts  to  walk- 
over to  Vermont?  I'd  like  company. 

Mack.     No  sir!  I  don't.     Now  you  get  out  of  here. 

Peterson.  I  am  going— Petersburg!!,  Hillsborough  county,  Ver- 
mont. Good-by  boys.  (exit,  L. 

Mack.     If  you  ever  show  your  face  in  here  again — 

Guy.  Mack,  you've  got  an  elephant  on  your  hands,  that  fellow 
intends  to  stay  with  you. 

Chas.  He  won't  come  back  a  train — here  let's  get  to  playing,  7 
want  to  win  back  that  ten  if  1  can — whose  deal  is  it? 

Enter,  PETERSON,  L.  K.,  MACK  grabs  him  by  throat. 
Peterson.     Look  out!  be  tetotally  careful,  that's  my  "jugler." 


CLAIM  NINETY-SIX.  *» 

Mack.  H;mg  your  jugler!  Didn't  J  tell  you  awhile  ago,  what  I 
would  do  if  you  came  in  here  again? 

Guy.     Now  then,  what  the  deuce  do  you  want? 

Peterson,     (points  to  grip  on  bar)     I  want  my  trunk. 

Mack.     Wt  U,  you  get  it  and  get  out  of  liere. 

Chas.  And  if  you  come  buck  here  again,  1  shall  take  it  upon  my- 
self to  kick  you  out  in  the  street. 

Peterson.  Ail  right — I'm  going  now — if  you  see  anybody  that 
wants  to  buy  some  tetotal  fine  apple  sass—  (GuY  rises)  Good-by 
boys,  goorl-by.  (exit,  L.,  hurriedly 

Guy.    Now  then,  let's  have  the  game  out — deal  Charley. 

CHABJLEY  deals,  they  play  the  hand,  talk  ad  lib. ;  work  it  at  long  at 
audience  icill  stand  it. 

Enter,  BESSIE,  L.  *.- 

Bessie.  Charley  Grey,  what  are  you  doins  here?  Trying  toloose 
what  dust  you  have?  Come  and  U't's  go  ho:no.  Come  on  now! 

Chaz.  All  rij.ht!  just  is  quick  as  I  play  this  hand  out;  go  on,  I'll 
be  there — give  une  tiiree  ranis,  Mack. 

Bessie.  No!  you  come  with  me,  I  won't  move  a  step  unless  you 
20  too;  these  fellows  will  cheat  you  out  of  all  the  dust  you  have. 
Come  on ! 

Mack.  Why,  Mrs.  Grey,  this  little  game  is  just  for  pastime;  of 
course  there  is  some  money  up,  tmt.  uot  enough — 

Bessie.  You  shut  up!  1  wasn't  talking  to  you,  you  can't  soft- 
soap  me. 

Enter,  EBONY,  *.,  1  *. 

Ebony.     'Caus,  I  golly,  she  don't  use  s^ap,  do  you? 

Bessie.     You  little  black  imp.  (makes  a  dive  for  him 

Ebony,  (dodges  her)  I  g"-lv,  bova,  loo\  out  for  stormy  weather, 
t'er  she's  got  her  skates  on.  It  would  take,  five  aces  and  a  "raizor" 
10  beat  da;  hand,  so  it  would,  I  golly.  (exit,  L.,  1  E. 

Bessie.  (t<<kes  h»ld  «j  chair,  CAKLEY  r«'.-.e.y)  Now,  come  on  and 
let's  go;  di.-n't  >tay  hrre  ami  associate  with  iliat  old  thief,  (points  to 
MACK)  he  would  steal  anything  In-  could  get  his  hands  on,  (GUY 
lavgl<s)  and  you  too,  I  mean  both  of  you.  (starts,  L.,  2  K. 

Guy.     Come  back  sometimes  and  we  will  finish  that  game,  Charley. 

Bessie.  No!  he  won't  either ;  if  he  does,  I'll  follow  him  with  a 
broom.  Charley  Grey  has  a  wife  that  will  lake  care  of  him,  he'll  do 
as  1  say.  (exit,  both,  L.,  2  K.,  MACE  and  GUY  laugh 

Enter,  PBTEKSON,  L.,  1  K. 

Peterxnn.  Now,  there's  another  perpendicular  good  speculation 
tetoially  busied,  I  might  say. 

Muck,  (sees  PxTBBBOX)  Well,  I'll  swear,  if  that  ain't  cheek  per- 
son, ride. 

Guy.     Didn't  we  tell  you  awhile  ago,  to  never  come  in  here  again. 

Peterton      v«»   but  say.  is  that  the  way  to  Vermont? 

(•ointt 


36 

Mmck.     Yes,  that's  the  way  to  Vermont. 

Peterson.  Well,  I  walked  up  that,  way  about  a  mile  and  a  half, 
but  I  never  saw  anything  of  it. 

Guy.  See  here,  1  am  going  to  count  five,  and  if  you  are  not  out  of 
here  when  I  get  through,  you  will  cease  to  exist;  now  then,  one — 
two — three — four — fi — 

Peterson.  Four  and  one-half  time.  Say,  don't  rush  me  out  BO 
fast,  I  think  1  see  a  tetotal  good  speculation  down  here.  I've  got  a 
trade  up.  I  can  get  a  sway  backed  mule  for  three  barrels  of  apple 
sass.  (MACK  and  GUY  push  him  out  L. 

Guy.  (seated)  Well  Mack,  what  do  you  think  of  Charley  Grey's 
wife  now? 

Mac.1-.     (seated)     I  think  she  will  run  Toomstone  to  suit  herself. 

Guy.  So  do  I,  and  it  we  do  anything  about  Grey's  dust,  we  will 
hare  to  work  lively,  I  tell  you.  She  deposited  the  du^t  with  old 
Bmndun  this  morning. 

Enter,  BELL,  L.,  3  K.,  stops  and  listent. 

Mack.  Thunder !  is  that  so?  Well,  that's  better  for  us,  old  Bran- 
don is  keeping  dust  for  several  of  tlie  miners,  and  we  can  go  up  there 
to-night  and  b!ow  that  safe  open  easy  enough  and  <ret  well  payed  for 
the  work  too.  (sees  BELL)  Ah!  eavesdropping  again  are  you,  curse 
you.  (jeiks  her  to  c.,  exit,  GUY,  R.,  1  K. 

Bell.  1  didn't  intend  to  overhear,  but  I  couldn't  help  it,  and  th'j 
words  I  overherd  are  terrible.  Jerry,  don't  do  that,  give  it  up  tor 
my  sake  if  not  your  own. 

Mack.  Shut  up!  didn't  I  tell  you  once,  that  if  I  caught  you  at 
this  aneaking  game  again,  I'd  cwre  you  of  it;  now  then,  I  am  going 
to  keep  my  word.  (gets  whip  behind  bar 

Bell.  You  can  whip  me  Jerry,  if  you  want  to,  but  don't  be  a 
thief,  a  "safe  breaker."  (kneels)  See,  on  my  knees  I  ask  you  to  give 
up  this  wild  scheme. 

Mack.  Get  up !  (BELL  rises')  I  used  to  whip  niggers,  and  I'll 
'how  you  that  I  haven't  forgot  how  to  use  the  lash  yet.  I'll  learn 
y»u  to  mind  your  own  affairs,  (strikes)  You  dare  to  scream  and 
I'll  put  a  bullet  through  your  treacherous  heart.  (strike* 

Bell,     (kneels)    O!  Jerry  1  Jerry !  have  some  mercy. 

Enter,  PETERSON,  L.  m. 

Peterson.     I  say,  that's  a  tetotal  darnation  ihame.     I'll  give  you  a 
oarrel  of  apple  sas,  if  you'll  quit. 
Mack.     Get  out  of  here,  curse  you. 

HACK  striken  PKTKRSON,  who  runs  out  L.,  yelling,  then  strikes  BBLL, 
she  »cr earns. 

Bell.    O!  Jerry  I  Jerry!  quit,  for  heaven's  sake,  stop  I 
Enter,  NELL,  R.  «.,  raises  rifle. 

Nell.     Jerry  Mack  stop  that! 

''MACK  stovs  and  look*  at  N«LL,  BBLL  on  knee*  a.  «. 


CLAIM  NINETf-BIX.  H 

SCENE  IV.— Street. 

Enter,  PBTKRSOM,  l.  «. 

Peterson,  Gosh  all  hemlock,  bnld  hornet*  and  yaller  jackets,  but 
that  fellow  can  use  a  whip.  If  he  was  back  in  Vermont,  he  would 
make  a  tetotal  fortune  in  less  than  a  month,  driving  ;in  ox  team. 
This  is  a  perpendicular  fine  kind  of  a  place,  but  I  don't  see  any  open- 
ing for  me.  It's  going  to  be  a  tetotal  long  walk  over  to  Vermont, 
but  as  the  old  saying  is— "a  light  heart  and  a  thin  pair  of  pants  get 
merrily  through  "the  world."  If  times  don't  improve,  or  I  don't  get 
something  to  eat  before  another  week  roll* around,  I'll  put  a  postage 
stamp  on  my  ear  and  send  myself  through  by  mail;  that  would  be  a 
tetotal  good  speculation,  if  I  could  find  some  man  that  I  could  trade 
two  barrels  of  my  apple  sags  too  for  a  stamp. 

Enter,  MACK,  L.  >.,  gesticulating  wildly. 

Sood-by,  good-by.  (exit,  R.,  quickly 

Mack.  Thunderation !  if  I  have  to  face  Nell's  rifle  once  more, 
my  nerves  will  be  shattered.  I  d'ui't  see  why  she  can't  mind  her 
own  affairs  and  let  me  alone.  That's  twice  she  h  is  come  In  on 
me.  I  am  almost  ready  to  believe  that  she  i>  watching  me.  If  slit- 
is,  1  will  have  iny  hands  full  to  keep  clear  of  her,  and  there's  Grey's 
wife — curse  her,  I  wish  she  was  away  from  here,  she  beats  anything 
I  ever  saw — 

Enter,  EBONY,  L.  E. 

Ebony.  I  golly,  she  does,  don't  she?  Say,  let  me  shine  yer  shoes; 
boss,  ain't  made  a  nickel  to-day. 

Mack.  Say,  you  little  black  cuss,  what  made  yon  pilot  Grey's 
wife  down  to  the  "Gold  Dust"  and  brake  up  that  gam  r  for?  She  is 
worse  than  a  powder  magazine. 

Ebony.     I  didn't  send  her  down  dar. 

Mack.     Yes,  you  did  too! 

Ebony,  No!  I  didn't  neither.  Let  me  told  yer  'boutdnt — vou  see 
she  was  a  walkin'  down  de  street  and  she  done  see  me  and  she  says, 
"here,  can  you  done  told  me  where  boss  Charley  am,"  and  1  say 
"no"  and  she  say — "nigger,  do  you  done  'spose  he's  down  to  de 
'Gold  Dust',"  and  I  done  told  her  dat  I  'spect  not,  and  she  say,  don't 
yon  go  fer  to  lie  to  me  you  little  brack  cuss,  and  with  dat  she  made 
one  iirab  for  dis  child's  wool,  but  I  wasn't  dar  boss.  I  tell  you,  I 
was  clean  gone  outen  sight.  I  golly  bos-,  when  she  came  fer  me  I 
was  scared,  I  thought  dis  child  done  hoo  dooed,  sho'. 

Mack.     That  woman  b  ats  the  devil. 

Ebony,  Dat's  just  ri^ht  boss,,  sho'.  I  done  told  yer  she*s  way 
outen  sight.  De  debil  needn't  watch  Toomstone  any  longer,  not 
while  she's  here,  (look  R.)  Hi  dar  boss  Charley,  lemme  done  shine 
yer  «h»es,  ain't  made  a  nickel  to-day.  (exit,  R. 

Mack.  I'll  swear,  I  don't  know  whether  to  think  that  little  black 
imp  is  lying  to  me  or  not.  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  take  it  for  granted, 
that  he  told  me  the  truth.  I'll  hunt  up  Guy  and  speak  to  him  about 
It. 


3»  CLAJlf  NINETY-SIX. 

MACK  starts  B.,  JOE  >nters  B.  B. 

Why,  hollo!  Joe,  shake  hands  old  man — 

Joe.  No  sir!  dod  burn' you  Jerry  Mack,  your  too  ornery  to  shake 
hand-  with  old  Joe.  Them's  my  sentiments,  pers:\ctly. 

Mack.     Why  I  what  in  thunder's  the  matter  no\v  ? 

Joe.  The  matter  is  just  this,  dod  burn  you,  I  know  you,  Fred 
Eldair. 

Mad:     (startled)     What?  (recoils  L.  c 

Joe.  I've  read  the  little  book  that  you  kept  locked  up  in  your  de-k, 
I  know  all  about  Nell,  dod  burn  you,  and  I'll  tell  old — 

Mack.     Curse  you,  don't  you  mention  that  name. 

Joe.     I  will  too.     Them's  my  sentiments  and  I  don't  give  a  cuss. 

Mack.  Curse  you,  you  will  never  tell  that  story  to  any  one  else. 

(drawn  knife 

Joe.     I  will !  I'll  tell  Xell  and  I'll  tell  Arthur  Brandon. 

Mack.     You  cursed  traitor! 

If'xhet  on  him,  stubs  him;  he  falls  back  as  NELL  enters;  she  catcher 
him  as  he  sinks  to  the  floor. 

Mell.    O:  Joe!  Joe!  h«-  has  killed  you. 

Joe.  (raises  on  elbme)  You'll  regret  this  to  your  dying  day,  Fred, 
for  1  am  your  brother. 

Nell,  (helps  Jot  lo  rise)  Blast  your  eyes,  Jerry  Murk,  you've 
killed  the  best  friend  1  had.  I'll  get  even  with  you  f-»r  this. 

(help*  JOB  out  B. 

Jfuck.  i  c.,  speak*  slow)  My-brother,  l-h.ive-killed-iuy-brother 
and  we  were  playmates  together.  My  brother,  who— 

Enter,  GUY,  L.  B. 

6hiy.  Hello!  Mack,  whafs  the  matter  with  you — you  look  all 
shaken  up — have  you  seen  a  ghost?. 

Mack.     I — I — I  don't  know  Guy,  I  hope  so — I — T — 

&uy.     You've  been  patronizing  your  own  bar,  Mack. 

Jd-.ck.     No:  Guy.  1— i  don't  feel  "like  myself." 

6'  y.  Well,  it  you  will  walkarou  :d  a  whiie,  you'll  soon  be  "your- 
s»'.t"  again.  Let's  move  lively  now  an  I  pay  a  visit  to  old  Braa  ion 
and  go  through  that  iron  box  of  his.  i  am  auxin-is  to  se.-  the  insi  l«: 
oi  it.  Remember  Mack.  "Claim  96"  may  be  the  reward  to-night. 
and  1  have  everything  all  ready.  (exit,  L. 

Mack-,  (starts  i..)  All  right  Guy,  I'm — Pm  a  little  nervous  uow, 
but  I'll  be  all  right  directly.  (exit,  L.,  »loa>ly 

Enter,  EBONY,  R.  E. 

Ebony.  Hello!  old  stick  in  the  mud  is  irone.  I  golly,  didn't  I 
done  huo-doo  him  with  da?,  big  lie  'bout  Mrs.  Grey?  Dia  chile  is  way 
outen  si^ut,  1  tole  yer. 

Enter,  NELL,  B.  E.,  rifle  in  hand. 

flello!  dar  Miss  Neil ;  golly,  what  you  join'  to  you? 

Nell.  I  am  going  to  j.ut  a  hole  through  Jerry  Hack's  heart.  He 
•tuck  a  knife  in  old  Joe  a>«  hile  ago.  (exit,  L. 

Ebony.     For  the  good  Lo'd  sake,  you  don't  told  me  to  f     Wail    I 


CLAIM  SINE!  T-SIX.  » 

always  like  to  be  in  at  the  death.  Hi !  dar,  Miss  Nell,  wait  for  dta 
chile.  (exit,  L. 

SCEXE  V. — Boom  in  MR.  BRANDOX'R  house;  staoe  dark,  safe  L. 
upper  corner.  Enter,  GCY  and  MACK  masked,  with  burglar  tools — 
look  around  cautiously. 

Guy.    Let's  get  to  work  old  man,  the  coast  is  "clear  and  we  can'1 
afford  to  fool  away  any  time  here. 
3/ack.     Have  you  ;rot  everything — the  powder? 
£"</.     Yes.  everything,  let"-  hurry.  (they  go  to  work  on  safe 

Enter,  MRS.  BRANDON,  R.,  1  E. 

Mrs.  B.  I  cannot  sleep,  I  have  tried,  but  in  vain ;  sleep  will  not 
visit  my  eyes  to-night.  I  am  tilled  with  a  foreboding  of  evil  to  us  or 
ro  someone  through  us.  I  have  tried  to  banish  the  thought,  but  J 
can  not. 

Heavy  explosion  to  R.  E.,  as  GUY  and  MACK  blow  open  safe',  MRS. 
BRAKDOX  scream*,  GUY  rises. 

6uy.  You  get  the  dust  Mack,  I'll  takecare  of  her.  (catches  MRS. 
BRANDON  fry  throat,  she  falls,  GOT  stabs  her— rises)  Are  you  ready, 

M.'ll-rx    ? 

Muck.    Yes.  yes,  I've  got  it;  quick,  let'*  go. 

(both  exit,  R.,  1  E.,  hurriedly 

Enter,  ARTHCR,  i_,3B. 
Arthur.     What  can  be  the  meaning  of  the  noise  I  beard. 

Enter,  NELL,  R.,  3  *.,  rifle  in  hand,  stands  till  curtain  drop*. 

I  could  have  sworn  that  I  heard  a  woman  scream,  (sees  MRS.  BRAN- 
DON) What's  this?  (kneels)  My  God!  it's  Julia,  what  villain  can 
have  •  one  this?  Julia!  Julia!  look  up,  speak  just  one  word,  whose 
work  is  this?  Julia!  Julia!  O!  God,  she's  dead  and  I  am  left  alone. 

(head  bowed 

CURTAIN. 
END  or  ACT  in. 


ACT  IV. 

SCENE  I. — MACK'S  saloon — XELL  Itaning  against  bar,   x»,  playing 
tcitii  her  revolver,  rijle  lytny  across  bar. 

Enter.  EBONT,  L..  1  K. 

Ebony.  I  golly.  Miss  Xell.  1  just  believe  you  naturally  love  den 
ar'  sun's,  yo'»'«e  al\v:«ys  f«K>  in'  with  Vm. 

yell.     They  are  th  •  best  frien  Is  I've  sot.  Ebony. 

f.l»>ny.     G'lly,  siin';  you  '(raid  of 'em? 

AVJ/.  Afraid?  Ha!" ha!  (Inuyhs)  not  m^h  I  ain't.  Most  srlru 
have  Uolli  to  olav  with  when  they  are  small,  bur  I  never  had.  I  nev«j 


94  CLAIM  NINETY-SIX. 

had  anything  to  amu*e  myself  with  but  gun.*,  and  revolver*,  and 
knives.  i've  grown  to  love  them — but  how's  Toomstone  this  naorn- 
ing — quiet? 

Ebony.     No  sir!  dey  nre  badly  flustercated  now,  I  tole  yer. 

Nell.  Well,  two  murders  in  one  night  is  enough  to  excite  even 
Toomstone  and.  all  it's  natives. 

Enter,  BELL,  R.,  3  «. 

Bell.  Toomstone  s»«Mns  unusually  excited  this  morning.  Nell. 
what  is  the  matter? 

Nell.    O !  nothing,  I  guess. 

Bell.     Ha v<>  you  seen  anything  of  Jerry,  this  morning? 

Nell.    No !  (pick*  up  rifle)  but  I'd  like  to. 

Hell.  HH  never  came  in  at  all  last  night.  There  must  be  some- 
thing wrong.  1  can't  help  thinking  there  is  some  terrible  calamity 
about  to  befall  us,  evf-rythini:  seems  wrong  this  morning. 

Enter,  OFFICER,  L.,  IB. 

Officer.     Nell,  you  are  my  prisoner, 

Bell.     What?  (recoil  R.  c. 

Officer.  Let  me  see  your  hands.  (NELL  holds  out  hand,  he  hand- 
cuffs her)  I  arrest  you  for  the  murder  ot  Julia  Brandon. 

Bell.  O!  Nell!  Nell!  has  it  really  come  to  this.  Did  yon  do 
that? 

Nell.  No!  but  I  know  who  did,  and  I'll  make  it  warm  for  th  -in 
when  I  get  out. 

Bell.  O !  don't  take  Nell  away,  don't,  she  never  committed  a  crime 
in  her  life;  let  her  go,  take  me. 

Officer.  Madam,  I  am  simply  doing  my  duty.  The  charge  of 
murder  is  against  her,  if  she  is  innocent  andean  prove  it,  all  well 
and  good,  but  I  must  take  her  to  the  station  house. 

Ebony.     I  say,  it's  er  shame,  I  goily,  and  I  can  lick  yer  too. 

Officer.     Come,  let  us  be  moving.  (atari  L. 

Bell.     Good-by  Bell,  I'll  be  hack  soon. 

Bell.  O !  Nell,  I  can't  let  you  go  (throws  her  arm  around  NBLL) 
alone,  I  shall  go  with  you. 

OKFICKK  pushes  BELL  aside  and  exit,  L.   with  NBLL.     BILL  seated 

crying. 

Sbony.  (following  OFFICER)  Coward!  coward!  'fraid  to  take  any 
oodv  of  your  size — why  don't  you  take  a  man.  Just  tackle  tne,  I 
golly.  I'll  stay  with  you,  Nell.  («*«,  L- 

8CENE  II.— Street. 

Enter,  MAJOR,  L.  •. 

Maj.  Be  gad,  sah.  I  can't  say  that  I  like  this  diabolical  country, 
they  are  too  free  with  their  "sticker;"  dang  a  man  that  fights  with  a 
knife  anyhow.  Why  don't  they  choose  something  more  modern  like 
this,  (xhows  reviJri-r)  Be  gad,  there's  "o;d  never  fail."  just  give  me 
a  little  gin  and  peppermint,  and  -'old  never  fail"  and  I  can  lick  all 
the  western  desperates  that  get  their  washing  done  in  this  camp. 
Begad,  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentucky,  «ah;  used  to  own  on« 


CLAIM    SiyKT7-SlX.  W 

hundred  niggers.     I  sigft  my  nam«  witli  an  X,  and  be  gad,  I'll  go 
and  get  some  gin  and  peppermint.  (start,  E. 

Enter,  EBONY,  B.  a. 

Ebony.     O-o-o-o,  etc.  \crytngvery  loud 

Maj.  Hello!  there,  grid  hoy,  what's  the  matter?  S;iy,  I  wouldn[t 
cry  about  it.  (EBONY  cries  louder)  S  ly,  pickaninny,  ilon't  take  it 
so  to  heart.  Brace  up — come  and  go  with  me  and  get  some  gin  and 
peppermint,  (pause)  What's  the  matter,  airway? 

Ebony,  (crying)  Dey've  done  been  gone  and  tooken  my  girl  off  to 
de  iug-up,  I  golly. 

Jttaj.     What's  that;  took  her  where? 

Ebony,     (crying)     Down  to  de — de — de  jug-up. 

Maj.     I  guess,  be  gad,  that  you  mean  the  lock-up,  don't  yon  ? 

Ebony.  Well,  dey's  all  de  same,  jug-up  and  lock-up,  ain't  deyf 
They've  got  her  in  jail  anyhow. 

J/nJ.     Well,  who  is  (he  girl  that's  in  jail  ? 

Ehony.     Why.  our  Nell,  I  golly,  and  I'm  goin'  to  ;q;et  her  out  too. 

JI<ij.  Gad  boy,  she's  the  s;iine  girl  that  u-=ed  to  sell  such  diabolical 
£<od  gin  and  peppermint  down  to  the  ''Gold  Dust,"  ain't  she? 

ELony.     Dat's  tie  girl  and  now  dev's  got  her  in  de  jng-up. 

Mtij.  I'm  Major  Doiittle,  from  Kentucky,  sah — I'll  go  and  got 
M>me  gin  and  peppermint,  and  help  you  get  the  uirl  out. 

Ebtwi.  I  go  ly,  boss,  if  you'll  done  do  dat  dis  chile  will  be  way 
onten  .-ight,  now  1  done  tole  yer. 

Muj.  Well,  be  g:nl  I'oy,  I'll  do  it.  You  run  down  the  street  and( 
uatun'il  Iconic.  (EBONY  exit,  L.)  Gad,I'llan:hilate'em;  (searches 
n<  ckets  whi-re's  my  annihilator?  Come  out  here  "old  n^ver  fill." 
(di  aws  r<  volver)  Begad,  sah.  you've  got  to  wade  through  blood — 
bemuse  I'm  Major  LMittle,  from  Kentucky,  sah,  and  I'll  go  and  get 
*ome  gin  and  peppermint,  (start  R.)  Gad,  Major,  you  are  gifted 
w  iib  an  iuimcn.-e  amount  of  courage. 

Enter,  JENNIE,  R.  «.,  sees  MAJOR  and  tries  to  past  Mr*  hurriedly. 

Hold  on  there!  be  gad,  I  believe  I  know  you. 

Jen.     1  don't  allow  strangers  to  accost  uie  in  the  street. 

Maj.  Well,  be  gad,  I  don't  think  wo  a  e  strangers.  Let  me  »ee 
your  hand,  don't  hold  back,  let's  see  yo'ir  hand. 

Jen.     I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  but  there's  my  hand. 

Maj.  Oh  1  I  thought  that  we  were  acquainted.  My  old  slave 
brand,  1  recognize  that  "S'',  that  stands  for  Slaves.  Begad,  I've 
lound  you  at  last,  haven't  I? 

Jen.  You  are  an  entire  stranger  to  me.  Let  louse  of  my  hand,  or 
1  shall  call  for  assistance. 

Jtfa;.  Be  gad,  I'm  from  Kentucky;  you  don't  work  that  dodg-  on 
me.  Don't  you  suppose  I  know  my  old  slaves?  Especially,  when 
they  have  the  brand  on  their  hamls.  O!  I  know  you.  Gad,  I  hate 
niggers,  'specially  runaway  niggers;  I've  a  greit  notion  to  take  you 
back  to  the  plantation  and  get  you  to  work.  What  made  you  run 
away. 

Jen.  O !  that  life  was  too  terrible,  we  couldn't  stay ;  but  don't  take 
us  buck,  we  will  do  anything — anything  but  that,  we  bare  mouey 
we  will  buy  our  freedom — 

Maj.     Gad.  don't  you  know  that  the  nigger*  are  free? 


W  CLAIM  NINETY-SIX. 

Jen.  But  we  will  pay  you  anything  y«u  ask,  if  you  will  Icr,  us 
alone — to  do  as  we  please. 

Maj.  VV here's  that  nigger  brother  of  yours.  I'd  like  to  gee  the 
rascal.  Be  gad,  I'd  put  a  hole  through  that  black  heart  of  his,  that 
you  could  throw  a  Chinese  bible  through.  Come  out  here  "old  never 
fail."  (draws  revolver)  I'll  tell  everyone  here  in  Toomstone,  that 
you  and  your  brother  used  to  be  slaves — runaway  nig:;1' •;•>.  and  you 
used  to  belong  to  Major  Dolittle,  of  Kentucky.  Be  gad,  -ah,  I  hate 
niggers,  'specially  runaway  niggers.  I've  a  notion  to  sho  >t  a  hole 
through  both  of  your  ears,  so  I  will  know  you  atter  this. 

Jen.  O I  don't,  please  don't,  you  couldn't  be  that  cruel.  Let  us 
go  and  we  will  le  <ve  here  and  never  cross  your  path  again.  We  have 
been  slaves,  and  branded  with  the  mark,  which  we  shall  carry  to  the 
grave,  but  do  not  tell  the  miners  that  we  were  once  slaves,  don't  be 
»o  inhuman — I  beg  you — more — 1  implore  you —  (about  to  kneel 

JJaj.  Get  up  girl,  I  ain't  no  little  tin  God  on  wheels,  you  needn't 
kneel  to  me — you  can  go,  for  1'rn  dry,  I'm  going  to  get  some  gin  and 
peppermint,  be  gad.  I'll  pay  you  and  your  brother  a  visit  one  of 
these  days,  and  then  I  will  settle  accounts  with  you.  (exit,  K. 

Jen.  (draws  dirk  and  slips  after  him  )  Ah .'  1  could  kill  you — yes, 
kill  you.  (pause)  But  no,  there's  been  enough  murder  done  in 
Toomstone  (or  one  night — (looking  R.  !  but  to  be  called  "slave — 
runaway  nigger,"  to  have  that  thrown  in  my  face — I  shall  go  and 
tell  Guy  and  put  him  on  his  guard.  (exit,  L. 

tiC'BNS  III. — MACK'S  saloon.  BELL  seated  a.  c..  EBONY  standing  L. 
c.,  BKLL  crying. 

Ebony.  Now  looky  here,  Mrs.  Bell,  don't  you  go  fer  to  take  on  :••<: 
bout  dis  hear.  I  teii  yer  things  will  come  out  all  right  yet.  Nell 
nerer  done  gone  kill  no  'oman,  now  1  done  tole  yer  dat  ar*  gal  did 
never  do  dat,  don't  1  know  her:1  I'm  de  feller  what  kin  git  her 
outen  dat  ar*  old  jug-up,  and  I  golly,  I'segein'  to  do  it  too.  I'll  just 
git  'er  big  lony;  pole  and  put  dat  pole  under  dat  jug-up  and  den  pull 
down  and  dat  will  just  turn  dat  jng-up  risrht  up  side  down,  den  Mr. 
Jug-up  fail  all  to  pieces  and  Miss  Nell  come  out,  and  den  we  will  tell 
dein  to  go  to  de  debil,  and  we  will  go  to  de  "Gold  Dust." 

Bell.     Why  Ebony !  that  wouldn't  do;  you  couldn't  do  that. 

JEbony.  Yes,  I  could  too!  Now  1  done  tole  yer  dat  a  nigger  can 
Jo  a  good  deal,  and  den  dat  feller  from  Kairituck'  done  told  me  he'd 
help.  Goin'  to  git  dat  gal  nuten  dat  jug-up  sbo'. 

Bell.  But  Ebony,  if  Nell  escapes,  that  will  go  to  prove  that  she 
did  kill  Mrs.  Brandon,  and  then  the  Regulators  would  soon  be  after 
her — we  must  do  all  we  cm  to  turn  suspicion  away  from  her.  Ebony, 
we  must  work  to  get  proof  of  her  innocence,  we  must  lind  out  who 
made  the  charge  agninst  her.  Who  do  jrou  suppose  did,  Ebony? 

Ebony.  I  golly,  you'se  got  me  clean  outen  sight,  but  m.iybe  I  can 
done  find  out. 

Bell.  If  we  could  find  out  that — then  we  would  have  something 
to  work  on,  a  clue  to  go  by,  but  it  certainly  was  made  for  revenge 
by  gome  enemv  of  her's. 

Ebony.  Dat's  so,  I  golly,  I  wish  I  bad  hold  of  dat  feller,  I'd  jerk 
forty-eleven  different  kinds  of  stuffing  outen  him. 

Bell.     1  didn't  know  that  she  had  an  enemy;  she   was  a  favoric* 
with  every  one  in  T'.omstone. 
.     J?**ny.     'Specially  m«,  I  golly. 


CLAIM  NINETY-SI*.  f) 

Bell.  She  has  said  something  or  done  something  that  has  made 
•mneone  mad  at  her,  and  that  person  has  brought  this  charge  against 
her  through  imliee. 

Ebony.  I  golly,  if  I  had  him,  I'd  "mallet"  him,  I'd  make  him 
thi;  k  he  was  hoo-dood,  suo'. 

Bell.  All  this  trouble  :md  excitement  is  causing  my  head  to  ache 
and  whin  so  that  I  do  not  know  what  to  do,  or  which  way  to  turn. 
O!  Nell!  Nell!  why  aid  this  trouble  have  to  come  up'f 

(breaking  down 

Ebony.  1  golly,  I  knows  '.vhat  I'm  goin'  to  do.  I'm  goin'  to  have 
a.  good  cry  all  by  myself,  and  dat's  wliat  you'd  better  do  too,  and  den 
you  will  feel  better,  (turning)  I  goily/dis  nigger's  eyes  are  leakin' 
n°w-  (exit,  R. 

.Bell.  I  don't  know  but  Ebony  is  giving  me  noo.l  advice,  an>l  I 
will  not  give  way  as  long  as  I  can  keep  from  it.  I  must  keep  my 
courage  up  now,  if  I  possibly  can.  Jerry  is  in  some  trouble  I  know, 
or  he  would  have  been  here  Jong  before  this.  If  he  has  done  what  I 
overheard  him  and  Guy  Lester  planning  to  do  yesterday,  anil  he  is 
lound  out,  and  Nell  in  jail  for  a  crime  she  never  committed — O !  wrlmt 
>hall  i  do — no  one  to  advise  me — no  one  to  help  me.  O!  Nell !  Nell ! 

(cryiny  '• 

CURTAIN. 

END  O7  ACT  IT. 


ACT  V 

SCENE  I— Street.     Enter,  MACK  and  GUY  from  L.  *.,  with 

whose  hands  are  tied  behind  her,  handkerchief  tied  over  her  mouth, 
she  pulls  back,  etc — business. 

Mack.  Come  on!  come  or> !  There's  no  use  to  pull  back,  for 
you've  got  to  go  with  us:  hold  on  to  her,  Guy. 

Gun.  It  won't  do  you  any  good  to  struggle,  for  you've  got  to  go, 
von  know  too.  much  about  us. 

Mack.     We  will  take  goo  I  care  of  you,  Nell. 

Guy.  Yes,  and  take  good  care  that  you  don't  tell  any  one  what 
you  know,  too.  Hurry  up  Mack,  we  haven't  any  time  to  fool  away 
here,  some  one  may  see  us;  if  she  won't  walk,  carry  her. 

(they  exit,  &.,  draging  NKJLL  with  them 

Enter,  MAJOR,  L.  K. 

i  and 

matter 

tucky,  and  I'll   have  gin  and   peppermint  or  blood.     Come  out  herf 
"old  never  fail."  (draws  revelvtr 


May.  Well,  be  gad,  I'm  stumped,  the  "Gold  Dust"  is  shut  up 
i  ain't  got  any  gin  and  peppermint;  won  ler  what's  got  the  ma 
with  Tnomstone  anyway.  Be  gad,  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  B 


Enter,  EBONY,  L.  •.,  excited. 

Ebony.     O!  boss!  boss  I  what  you'st-   think?     D«Vve   done   gon« 
«nd  broken  into  de  ]"ug-up  and  carried   Mi»s  Neil   off  up  the  moon- 


W  CLAIM  NTVETY-SIX. 

tain  along  with  Charley  (Prey's  dust.  For  de  good  Lo'd  sake*  I— r 
—I— I  golly ! 

Mfij.  Well,  be  gad,  sah,  I'll  go  and  get  some  gin  and  peppermint, 
»nd  we  will  go  and  get  her.  I  want  to  go  up  on  the  mountain  any- 
way* g°t  a  runaway  nigger  up  there  that  I  want  to  see.  We  will 
take  "old  never  fail,"  and  be  gad,  sah,  we  will  shoot  out  a  path 
through  them  and  get  the  girl.  We  wi  1  have  her  if  \ve  have  to  wade 
'hrough  blood,  "old  never  fail"  is  always  in  the  ring.  I'll  go  and 
get  some  gin  and  peppermint,  and  then  we'll  go. 

Ebony.  Say,  bos*,  can't  you  get  her  by  yourself?  I  don't  believe 
I  want  to  go  up  dar' — I  golly,  I  don't. 

Maj.     What's  the  matter  nigger,  'fraid? 

Ebony.    N — n — no— ain't  'fraid,  but  I  golly,  I'm  sick. 

Maj.    Be  gad,  you  needn't  be  afraid,  look  at  "old  never  fail." 

Ebony.     Say,  boss,  we  .want  to  all  stay  together. 

Maj.  Of  course  we  do,  you  and  me  and  "old  never  fail."  Gad, 
l>oy,  we  will  show  'em.  I'll  get  the  gin  and  peppermint. 

Ebony.     Say,  boss,  is  there  goin'  to  be  any  knoekin'sdown  in  this? 

Maj.     Be  gad,  sah,  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentucky — 

Ebony.     Say,  I  golly,  we  want  to  all  stay  together  now? 

Maj.  Why,  of  course  we  -lo !  You  run  on  down  the  street  and  I'll 
^o  and  get  the  gin  and  peppermint,  and  then  we  will  go. 

Ebony,  (start  R.)  We'll  show  'em  I  golly ;  (turns)  we  want  to  all 
stay  together  boss,  all  stay  together.  (exit,  R. 

Maf.  Yea,  we'll  all  stay  together;  come  out  here  "old  never  fail." 

(flourishes  revolver 

Enter,  MACK,  L.  B. 

Mack.    Hello!  there  Major,  how  goes  the  battle? 

Maj.  Say,  Landlord,  be  gad,  sah,  do  you  know  a  fellow  by  the 
name  of  Guy  Lester  ? 

Mack.     Can't  say  that  I  do.     Why? 

Maj.  Be  gad,  sah,  I'd  like  to  see  him;  he's  a  runaway  nigger— 
ased  to  be  one  of  my  slaves  before  the  war.  He  and  his  sister  i  ar 
•way  from  me;  curse  'em.  They've  got  my  brand  on  their  hands 
Be  g:id,  sah,  if  I  find  him,  me  and  "old  never  fail"  proposes  to  anilii 
late  him,  sah,  we'll  blow  a  hole  through  hisdiabolical  heart  that  you 
can  throw  a  Chinese  bible  through.  We  are  looking  for  blood — me 
and  "old  never  fail",  and  be  gad,  sah,  I'll  go  and  get  some  gin  and 
peppermint.  (exit,  R. 

Mack.  Thunder!  luck's  coming  my  way  at  last,  that's  what  1  call 
information  worth  something.  I  always  thought  Lester  had  a  secret. 
and  at  last  I've  found  it  out.  He  called  me  slave  driver — nigger 
whipper,  and  now  then  I'll  be  even  with  him — I'll  call  him  "slave- 
runaway  nigger,"  I'll  throw  that  in  his  face,  curse  him.  (exit,  *. 

SCENE  II. — Cave  in  the  Mountain. 

GCT  R.     Enter,  JKNNIB,  L.  m. 

Jen.,     (runs  to  GUY)     O !  Guy !  Guy  ! 

Guy.  What  is  the  matter,  Jennie,  tell  me  quick,  what  have  you 
wen  or  heard  ? 

Jen.     We  will  hrxve  to  leave — Major  Dolittle  is  here — in  Toomstone, 
Guy.     WellB  what  of  that,  he  don't  knoyr  us. 


CLAIM 

Jen.  O!  he  does — he  does,  he  propped  me  on  the  street,  recognized 
me,  called  me  a  sbive — a  runaway  nigger.  O1  Guy,  I  could  hardly 
keep  from  killing  liim.  He  gaH  he  would  soon  pay  you  a  visit  and 
settle  accounts  with  you — 

Guy.  Let  him,  curse  him,  he  will  never  pay  another  man  a  visit. 
When  he  hunts  Guy  Lester,  he  will  have  hunted  up  his  last  man. 
We  both  near  his  mark  and  curse  him,  he  shall  wear  mine — JeunJe, 
yon  . -ire  excited,  go  in  and  bring  Nell  to  this  room.  See  that  she 
does  not  escape — I  must  go  and  see  if  Mack  is  coming. 

Jen,  Are  we  always  to  hear  the  words  "slave-runaway  niggers?" 

(exit,  R. 

Guy.  No !  by  heavens  we'll  not,  I'll  not  be  hounded  down  by  him, 
.•urse  him.  (exit,  L. 

Knter,  JENNIE  and  NELL,  from  R.  •,,  NELL  bound  by  chain — JJSNNII 
fastens  chain  to  rock. 

Jen.  You're  a  beauty,  you  are,  and  you've  got  yourself  in  a  nice 
fix  too,  haven'tyou?  Maybe  you  will  learn  to  leto:her  people's  busi- 
ness alone  alter  this — see  what  you've  got  yourself  into  by  your 
meddling.  O!  you  are  a  sweet  one. 

Nell.  If  these  chains  were  off  of  me  and  I  had  my  rifle,  you 
wouldn't  talk  that  way  to  me,  I'd  put  a  hole  through  that  treacher- 
ous heart  of  yours. 

Jen.  Yes  ''if!"  Why  don't  you  break  the  chains.  Don't  tell  me 
Tin  treacherous,  you  are  the  one  that  will  have  to  be  watched,  you 
are  the  one  that  is  treacherous.  Who  started  the  Regulators  after  us? 
Why  you  did. 

Xell.  No  1  didn't  either,  but  if  I  ever  get  out  of  this  I  will,  you 
can  bet  your  dust  on  that. 

Jen.     Well,  I'll  take  go  >d  care  that  you  never  get  out  alive. 

Nell.  Ah!  you  wouldn't  kill  anybody,  you  haven't  got  the  courage 
— it  takes  courage  to  kill  peopli — you  and  that  sneaking  brother  of 
yours — both  together — haven't  the  courage  of  a  rag  doll. 

Jen.  Shut  up,  don't  provoke  me  too  far  or  I'll — I'll — (draws  dirk) 
I'll  cut  that  throat  of  yours. 

Nell.  Ah  !  go  away,  you  tire  me — run  down  to  your  play-house, 
sissy,  and  play  with  your  dolls. 

Jen.     You'll  never  say  that  again. 

(raises  kirk  and  advances  about  to  strikt 

Enter,  MACK,  R.,  2  K. 

Mack.  Hold  on  there,  what  the  thunder  are  you  trying  todoT 
Drop  that  knife. 

./«»/.     I'll  kill  her! 

Mack.  No!  you  won't  either,  I've  got  something  to  say  about 
thai,  put  up  that  "sticker." 

Nell.     Let  that  coward  alone,  she  won't  hurt  anybody. 
"«,  k.     Shut  up  Nell,  this  has  gone  far  enough.     Where  is  Guy, 
.J  e  1 1 1 1  i  (.• ''. 

Jen.     I  don't  know,  hunt  him  up  if  you  want  him. 

Mack.  1  will,  and  I'll  surprise  him  when  1  do  find  him,  too. 
I've  a  little  account  to  settle  with  him  and  you  too.  You've  called 
me  slave-driver  and  nigger  whipper  long  enough,  now  then  I'll  **\ 


••  CLAIM  NINETY-SIX. 

even  with  you  both.  Pve  founrl  you  out — I  know  you — you  are 
octoroons — slaves — runaway  niggers — you  have  the  slave  brand  on 
your  hands. 

JENNM  raises  dager  and  rushes  upon  MACK,  strikes  htm,  he  ttaggera 
back,  she  strikes  again,  he  falls  c.,  she  strikes  again. 

Enter,  GUY,  L.  B. 

Guy.    Jennie!  Jennie!  heavens  girl,  what  have  you  done? 

Jen.  O !  Guy,  I've  killed  him — lie  called  us  slaves,  runaway  nig- 
gers— 

Guy.  We  have  no  time  for  explanations,  the  Regulators  are  after 
us — almost  upon  us.  This  country  is  too  \vann  for  us,  we  must 
leave.  Come!  hurry!  they  are  just  coming  dowu  the  mountain; 
hurry  girl  or  we  will  be  taken. 

Nell.     Cowards!  cowards!  I'll  shoot  both  of  you  yet. 

JENNIE  runs  back  to  NELL,  raises  dirk  to  strike,  GUY  jerks  her  out  R- 

Ebony,     (out  L.)     Now  boss,  we  want  to  all  stay  together. 

Maj.  (out  L.)  Comeout  hcie  4lold  never  tail,"  win-re's  the  gin  and 
peppermint?  Here  it  is.  now  be  gad,  let's  go.  (calls)  Dou't  shoot, 
don't  shoot,  we're  iriends,  we're  friends,  etc. 

Enter,  EBONY  and  MAJOR,  L,  K.,  MAJOR  pushing  EBONY  in,  trying  t<> 
hide  behind  him. 

Ebony.     I  golly,  boss,  let's  all  stay  together. 

Maj.  Don't  shoot,  don't  shoot,  be  gad,  I'll  take  some  gin  and 
pepperment.  (sees  MACK  on  stage,  points  revolver  over  EBONY'S 
fhoulder)  Throw  up  your  hands,  be  gad,  sah,  "ol  1  never  fail"  has 
got  the  drop  on  you. 

Nell,     (calls)     kbony! 

Ebony.     1  go!ly.  Miss  Nell,  dat  you?  (runs  to  her 

Maj.  (goes  to  NELL)  Well,  be  gad,  sah,  you're  pretty  well  tied 
up.  ain't  you?  Here,  take  some  gin  and  peppermint,  and  I'll  soon 
get  you  loose.  (unlocks  chains,  NELL  rises 

Maj.  (goes  to  MACK)  Now  then,  be  gad,  if  you  are  dead,  say  so, 
and  if  you  ain't,  why  take  some  gin  and  peppermint. 

(kneels  over  MACK 

Ebony.  I  golly,  Miss  Nell,  I  done  thought  that  you'se  cle;ir  outeu 
sight,  now  I  done  told  yer  I  did. 

Nell.    So  did  I,  Ebony.' 

Mack,     (calls)     Nell ! 

Maj.  Be  sad,  landlord,  you  ain't  dead  yet,  are  you?  Here,  take 
some  more  gin  and  peppermint.  (business 

Mack.  Nell !  come  here.  (NELL  goes  c.)  Don't  hold  anything 
against  m^,  Nell,  will  you? 

Nell.     Well  Mack,  you've  treated  me  badly — 

Mack.  I  know  1  have,  Nell,  but  you'll  forgive  me,  won't  you? 
1  am  dying  Nell,  and  1  want  to  tell  yon  something.  L'Sten,  Nell; 
my  name  is  Fred  Eldair;  my  oldest  brother  Joe,  lett  B  >st<m  and 
earne  to  the  West — to  Too  nstone — you  knew  him  as  Sacramento  .Joe. 
I  didu't  inow  he  was  mv  brother  until  I  had  killed  him —  (stops 


CLAfM  S-INETT-8TX.  41 

Jfoj.     Her*,  take  some  more  of  the  gin  and  peppermint. 

(business 

Jfack.  While  1  wns,  In  Boston,  I  was  cashier  In  Arthur  Brandon's 
bank — he  detected  me  in  stealing  from  him,  but  as  I  wa-;  young,  he 
left  me  iro  free,  and  in  return  for  his  kindness  toward  me,  I  stole  his 
child.  ThecliiM  was  named  Oracle;  she  was  then  about  t\vo  years 
old — I  fleil  to  the  South  witu  her,  a.id  then  West— well,  you  know 
the  rest,  Nell — all  but  this — the  child  I  stole  from  Artnur  Brandon 
was  you,  Nell — A'rthur  Brandon  is  your  lather. 

(sinks  back  on  stage 

Ebony.     I  golly,  if  dat  don't  beat  the  debil ! 

Maj.  Well,  l>e  gad,  I  should  say  so,  and  the  gin  and  peppermint 
i-  all  gone,  let's  go  to  Toum.-tone  and  get  some  more. 

Nell.     But,  can  we  take  him  with  us? 

Maj.  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentucky,  s:ih,  and  be  gad,  I'll 
try.  (they  ra/sa  MACK  up)  I  sign  my  name  with  auX,  and  be  gad, 
v\  e  will  get  some  more  gin  and  peppermint.  (exeunt,  L. 

SCENE  III,— MACK'S  saloon. 

Enter,  MAJOR  and  NELL,  L.,  3  E.,  BELL,  B.  H. 

Pell.     O !  Nell !  Nell .'  I  am  so  glad  to  have  you  back  again ! 

Maj.     (behind  bar)     Gad,  if  I  could  find  that  gin  and  peppermint. 

Nell.     I  told  you  I'd  soon  be  b:ick,  Bell. 

Bell.     And  Jerry?     Have  you  seen  anything  of  him? 

Nell.  Try  not  to  think  about  that  Bell,  he  is — he  will  never  come 
hack — 

Bell.     Is  he — he  is  not — not — 

Nell.  Yes,  Bell,  he  is  de  id;  we  tried  to  bring  him  down  the 
mountain,  but  he  died  before  we  got  halt'  way. 

J/./j.  Yes,  the  gin  and  peppermint  give  out.  If  that  had  held 
"ut.  we'd  got  him  here  all  rig! it.  (BELL  weeps 

Nell.  Don't  grieve  about  it  Bell,  it's  better  that  he  should  be  dead, 
lie  was  a  murderer,  for  he  killed  old  Joe,  an  1  Joe  was  his  brother. 
He  told  me  the  history  of  his  life  before  he  died — he  toll  me  that 
Arthur  Brandon  wns  m\-  father,  and  he  has  all  of  the  proofs,  we  just 
.•arne  from  my  latin. . .'.s  house;  and  Bell,  we  are  to  leave  Toomstona 
io-morrow  lorever,  and  you  are  going  with  us. 

Bell.  O!  Nell,  you  are  too  good  and  kind.  I  can  not  express  my 
thanks  in  words,  I — I — I — 1  don't  know  what  to  do. 

Maj.    Come  up  and  take  some  gin  and  peppermint  with  me. 

Enter,  CHARLEY,  L.  E. 

Chas.  Ah !  Nell,  back  in  the  "Gold  Dust"  again,  alive  and  well  1 
see — Ah  !  good-morning.  Bell. 

Nell .  Yes,  Charley,  back  again — bow  did  the  dust  an  1  the  papers 
turn  out,  all  right? 

Ctius.  Yes,  all  right,  the  dust  was  all  there,  just  to  the  ounce, 
and  the  papers  for  "Claim  96"  were  all  right  too.  I  heard  you  were 
going  to  leave  in  the  morning,  so  I  came  around  to  try  to  thank  you 
tor  the  good  turn  you  done  me  by  returning  tiie  dust  and  papers. 

Nell.  Don't  thank  me,  thank  the  Major;  it  it  hadn't  been  for  him 
I  \\onld  still  be  a  prisoner  on  the  mountain. 

Chas.     Well.  Maior — 


4i  CLAT\f 

Maj.  Be  gad,  sah,  you  needn't  thank  me,  "old  never  fail"  IB  th« 
one  that  done  the  work.  I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentucky,  sah, 
^ome  up  and  take  some  gin  aad  peppermint  with  me  and  "old  never 
fail." 

NelL  I  don't  suppose  that  we  could  persuade  you  to  go  back  to 
the  East  with  us,  Charley? 

Chat.  No!  Nell,  I  expect  to  leave  the  West  some  time,  but  not 
now.  I  have  too  much  at  stake  to  leave  now.  1  shall  work  "Claim 
96"  for  all  she  is  worth — I  may  go  to  the  East  in  a  year,  or  may  be 
sooner,  but  not  now — and  yon  Bell,  I  suppose  that  you — 

Bell.  Yes,  I'm  to  go  win  Nell.  She  says  I  must,  and  I  suppose 
I  shall  have  too.  She  has  been  my  best  friend,  and  1  have  tried  to 
be  a  friend  to  her — 

Nell.     And  you  have  succeeded  too,  Bell. 

Chas.     And  you  Major,  I  suppose  yon  are  going  to — 

Maj.  I'm  going  to  'tend  b;ir  in  the  "Gold  Dust"  b«  gad,  iah. 
L'ome  up  and  have  some  gin  and  peppermint. 

Chas.  Well,  it  seems  as  if  everything  is  all  ready  for  you  to  make 
an  early  start  in  the  morning — 


Enter,  EBONY,  L.  & 

Ebony.  Well,  hold  on,  I  golly,  here's  me  yet— if  yoa'se  all  goin' 
away,  what's  goin'  to  come  o'  me?  What  am  I  goin'  to  do?  ATP 
you  done  goin'  to  leave  me  back  here  to  be  hoo-dooed?  What  you 
goin'  to  do  with  dis  t-hile? 

Maj.     Give  him  some  gin  and  peppermint,  be  gad,  sah. 

Nell.     What  do  you  want  us  to  do  wirh  you.  Ebony? 

Ebony.     I  golly,  I  don't  know  Miss  Nell,  does  you? 

Nell.     Do  yon  want  to  go  with  us? 

Ebony.    -I  golly,  can  I  ? 

Nell.     Yes,  if  you  want  too. 

Ebony.  Whoop !  (yelU)  dis  chile's  done  outen  sight  now,  I  done 
tole  yer. 

Maj.  And  so  am  I  and  "old  never  fail,"  and  be  gad,  sah,  we'll 
take  some  gin  and  peppermint.  (drinks 

NelL  Ehony,  you've  done  me  several  good  turns,  and  if  you 
was'ntso  much  on  the  brunette  order,  I'd  kiss  you. 

Maj.  (comes  from  behind  bar,  b»ttte  in  hand)  Well,  be  g:id,  sah, 
here's  one  a.shade  lighter — I'm  Major  Dolittle,  from  Kentucky,  sah; 
used  to  own  one  hundred  nigg-rs.  I  sign  ray  name  wltu  :ui  X,  and 
be  gad,  sah,  I'll  take  some  gin  and  peppermint.  (drink3 

MAJOR  c.  NELL  L.  c. 

CHARLEY  *.     EBONT  ».  c.  BELL  I* 

CURTAIN. 

TU   END. 


By  Force  of  Love; 

-OB- 

Wedded  and  Parted. 


A  Domestic  Drama  in  5  ads.  by  Mr.  Edward  Goddard,  for  8  male  and 

3  female  characters.     Time  of  playing  2  hours.     Cos/unies 

modern. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  EVENTS. 

ACT  I.  —  Christmas  Eve.  —  Wyndam  Abbey  —  Lady  Lanthe's  birth- 
day —  Sir  Robert's  trouble  —  "Lanthe.  can  you  forgive  me?  We  are 
ruined  !  I  cannot  live  to  be  called  a  thief"  —  "I  would  die  to  save  you 
father"  —  "And  this  is  Christmas  time,  when  everybody  is  supposed 
to  be  happy"  —  "Lanthe,  be  civil  to  Herman  Culmore,  he  is  not  an 
inferior,  if  he  is  the  son  of  a  manufacturer"  —  "If  he  had  the  wealth 
of  the  world,  he  would  be  inferior  to  a  penniless  Wyndam." 

ACT  II.  —  Tim  and  Maud  —  The  secret  —  Herman  and  Mr.  Grantly  — 
"An  existing  barrier  between  yourself  and  Lady  Lanthe"  —  Herman 
Culmore's  proposal  —  Sir  Robert  and  Lanthe,  he  tells  her  of  Culmore's 
proposal  and  wishes  —  "To  marry  me  !  impossible  !'  '  —  Sir  Robert  pleads 
to  his  daughter  —  "Give  me  untill  tomorrow"  —  Tim's  idea  is  a  noggin 
of  rale  Irish  whiskey  —  Maud  thinks  a  good  son-in-law  is  the  thing  Sir 
Roberf  needs  —  The  marriage  contract  —  "I  will  be  your  wife,  but  no 
word  of  love  shall  ever  cross  my  lips  to  you." 

ACT  III.  —  Lapse  of  one  year  —  The  spray  of  geranium  —  The  parting 

—  "You  see  how  madly  I  love  you,  just  one  kiss  in  farewell"  —  Depart- 
ure of  Herman  for  America. 

ACT  IV.  —  Lapse  of  three  years  —  The  Bandit's  retreat  —  The  exiled 
husband  a  prisoner,  and  held  for  ransom  —  A  room  in  Wyndam  Abbey 

—  The  repentant  wife  —  Bandit's  retreat  —  An  Irishman's  wits,  and  a 
canteen  of  wine  accomplishes  the  rescue  of  Herman  Culmore  —  Room 
in  Wyndam  Abbey. 

ACT  V.  —  Christmas  Eve.  again  —  The  meeting  of  two  loving  hearts, 
and  a  happy  reunion.  Price  loots. 

Deacon  Jones'  Wife's  Ghost. 

A  Farce  in  1  act,  by  Bert  Rawley,  for  4  male  characters.  Costumes 
and  scenery  easy.  A  capital  negro  character,  who  is  afraid  of  a 
ghost.  Price  I5c. 


'  Ccmiit-ry  .A.unt. 

A  Domestic  Drama  in  2  acts,  for  4  female  characters.  Costumes 
modern.  Time  30  minutes.  The  country  Aunt  fe£  a  good  character. 
who  teaches  her  neices  a  lesson  in  true  politeness.  A  good  play  for 
ladies.  Pries  IScts. 


The  Ames'  Publishing  Co.,        Clyde,  Ohio. 


ight;  -1+ 

T-OR-, 

The 'Diamond  King. 

< 

A  Western  Drama  in  4  acts,  by  Col  Ceo.  H.  Hamilton,  for  10  male 

.and  3  female  characters.     The  cast  contains  a  good  villain,  01" 

soubrette,  a  chinaman,  a  negro,  and  an  irishman.- 

Time  of  playing  1  hoar  and  40  minutes. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  EVENTS. 


'ACT  I. — Hotel  at  Yosemite  Valley — A  game  of  cards — Keceipt  for 
S10.000 — A  ruined  man — "Enjoy  life  while  it  lasts,  for  when  you.  are 
dead,  it's  a  long  time" — The  oath — Dollie  and  Sandy — "Take  a  fool's 
advice" — The  letter  in  cipher— Jubal  and  Doilie — The  whiskey  test 
— "No  sir!  dis  coon  won't  be  exploded" — Silas,  the  Irish  adviser — 
Win  Klee,  the  chinaman,  assists  Silas — The  proposal  interrupted — 
Yosemite  Bill  and  Silcartie  at  the  hotel — Mrs.  Marvin  and  Bill — "A 
letter  from  Sandy's  partner,  Bud" — Bill's  story  of  how  he  found  the 
little  gal — "She's  been  the  sunlight  of  our  home" — "The  shadows 
fall" — Sunlight  and  Redfern — A  villain's  proposal — Sandy  appears — 
"You  will  both  regret  this  hour" — Draw  poker.  Chinaman  takes  a 
hand — Silcartie's  story  and  it's  sequel — "Sunlight,  my  child  — "Guard 
these  papers  with  your  life" — Dismal  forbodings — "Traitor !' ' — Redfern 
murders  Silcartie  and  escapes. 

ACT  II. — Dollie  and  Win  Klee,  his  proposal  to  Dollie — Silas  and 
Dollie — "1  want  a  man  who  is  not  afraid  to  propose" — Sunlight  and 
Bill — News  of  Bud's  arrival — Sandy  overhears  Sunlight's  explanation 
to  Walter — "The  Canyon  can't  hold  us  three" — Sandy's  decision  and 
farewell — Walter  murdered  by  Redfern — Win  Klee  appears  at  window 
— Redfern  accuses  Sandy  of  the  murder — Two  bowers  and  the  little 
joker. 

ACT  III. — Mining  cave  in  Mexico — Win  and  Jubal — Arrival  of 
Bandits— Palacio  and  Redfern — "Sienta  must  die  tonight" — The 
deadly  drug — "Away  to  the  treasure  cave" — Win  and  Jubai  prepare 
a  surprise  for  the  Bandits — Jubal  changes  dm;*  for  wh'rkey — Sandy, 
as  Sienta.  the  crazed  miner — Redfern  gives  Sandy  the  supposed  poi- 
snn  — "Now  die,  I'm  avenged" — Sandy  and  Jubai — Uediern's  villainy 
— isiins  in  search  of  Sandy — Palacio  has  the  chart,  a  struggle,  in 
which  Sandy  recovers  the  chart — "Found!  found!  I  am  the  Diamond 
King '" — Explosion. 

ACT  IV. — Bill  and  Mrs.  Marvin — Sunlight's  sorrow — Silas  returns 
to  Dollie  as  a  missionary — Redfern  claims  Sandy's  property — Sandy 
arrives  disguised — "No  word  from  my  husband7" — Sandy  and  Red- 
fern  meet — The  disguise  thrown  off — "Redfern.  you  murdered  Walter 
liurreii" — Win  Klee  a  witness — Judge  Lynch --Happy  reunion  be- 
iv.  >.cri  Sandy  and  Sunlight — "I  have  returned  a  '  Diaiii'  i'd  Ming." 

1'ricc  zibets. 


BEYOND  PARDON; 

— OR— 

The  Countess  of  Lynn. 

An  Emotional  Drama  in  5  acts,  by  William  L.  Beck,  for  7  male  and  Q 
female  and  2  children.     Characters  can  be  doubled  so  as  to  p/flf 
6  males.  4  females  and  2  children.    Scenery  easily  arranged. 
Costumes  modern  and  characters  excellent.     Interesting 
from  beginning  to  end,  appealing  strongly  to  the  sym- 
pathies of  all.     Price  15  cents. 

SYNOPSIS  OF  EVENTS. 

ACT  I. — London.  Eng. — The  Duchess'  ball — Vivian,  Countess  of 
Lynn — Arrival  of  Sir  Lionel  Rydal — A  strong  facination — An  intro- 
duction— The  dance — Gossip  and  scandal — Lady  Gay's  dismay  and 
rage — The  Oath  of  friendship. 

ACT  II. — Bridget's  idea  regarding  "domestics"  felicity — Bliss  dis- 
turbed— "I'll  lave  in  the  mornin'" — Lord  Lynn — The  lost  locket — 
Embarrassment  of  the  Countess — Lady  Gay's  visit — The  news  of 
London — Sent  for  a  drive — Sir  Lionel  calls — Luncheon  for  two — Lord 
Lynn's  return — A  jealous  husband — Storm  ahead — Parting  of  Sir 
Lionel  and  the  Countess — A  close  observer — Confronted — The  Coun- 
tess' dismay — The  quarrel — "You  love  this  man?" — "Yes" — The  first 
and  last  blow. 

ACT  III. — Scene  1. — Dunwold,  near  London — Eleanor  and  Rose — 
The  smoking  cap  and  jacket — Gurdon  and  Blossom — A  letter  scented 
with  violets — Sir  Lionel  must  return  to  London  at  once  "on  busi- 
ness"— "I  shall  return  tomorrow" — The  departure — Scene  2 — The 
Countess  in  suspense — Sir  Lionel  arrives — Countess  tells  him  why 
she  has  left  Lord  Lynn — Sir  Lionel  reasons  with  her — "You  must  re- 
turn home  Vivian,  indeed  you  must" — The  projected  elopement — 
Another  good  man  gone  wrong — "Dearer  than  my  hopes  of  Heaven" 
— Scene  3. — An  anxious  wife — Squire  and  Mrs.  Gordon — Toys  for  the 
children — Old  times — "Men  are  all  cut  from  the  same  pattern  and 
one's  just  as  bad  as  the  other" — The  fatal  letter — The  Squire's  oath — 
I  cannot  forget  that  he  is  my  husband,  the  father  of  my  children.  I 
forgive  him.  I  forgive  him." 

ACT  IV, — Sea-sh"re  at  Calais.  France — Waiting  for  the  train — My 
wife  and  children — Consternation  of  the  Countess — The  confession — 
The  truth  at  last — A  broken  heart — His  discription  of  Eleanor  and 
the  children — Words  of  torture — "Childish  hands  push  me  from  you. 
Farewell" — Flight  of  the  Countess — A  desolate  beach  at  Calais — 
•  Alone  in  the  world  at  last." 

ACT  V. — Caen,  France — A  deserted  wife — Sister  Marie — The 
Squire's  proposition — Rose  tells  Marie  that  Sir  Lionel  is  expected 
home  any  minute — Terror  of  Sister  Marie — "I  must  away-away  be- 
fore he  comes" — Failing  fast — "My  God  !  Must  he  die  too  1" — A  strati', ( r 
— The  familiar  voice — The  recognition — "Farewell,  forever!" — Depart- 
ure of  Marie — Eleanor's  joy  at  Sir  Lionel's  return — The  dying  sister — 
"I  am  that  unhappy  woman,  In  Heaven's  name  say  that  vou  for- 
give me!" — Pard»n  and  death  of  Vivian,  Countess  of  Lynn. 


-THE' 
MECHANIC'S' 

•REPRIEVE. 


A  Drama  in  3  acts,  by  John  M.  Murphy,  for  8  male  and 

3  Jemale  characters.     Time  of  playing  1 

hour  and  50  minutes. 


PRICE  15  CENTS  PER  COPY.- 


SYNOPSIS  OF  EVENTS. 

ACT  T. — Colonel  Harrington  Informs  his  daughter  Mary,  of  Lester 
Wilson's  intended  visit — Dan  Trogan  and  the  horses — John  Rogers, 
the  mechanic — His  proposal  accepted  by  Mary — "If  a  body  kiss  a 
body" — Annie  and  Mary — E.  Z.  Walker,  as  a  tramp,  appears — Annie 
interested  in  the  tramp — "Me  heart  is  broke  and  me  back  is  in  the 
same  yard,"  says  Dan — Colonel  gives  his  consent  for  Wilson  to  ad- 
dress Mary — Mary  and  Wilson,  the  proposal  rejected — "He's  nothing 
but  a  mechanic" — A  plot  to  ruin  John  Rogers — The  stolen  money 
and  murder  of  Colonel  Harrington — John  accused  of  murder,  by 
Wilson — Mary's  faith  in  her  lover — Arrest  of  Rogers. 

ACT  II. — The  tramp  returns,  meets  Annie  and  Dan — x\nnie  tells 
Walker  of  the  murder  and  the  conviction  of  Rogers — "He  hangs  to- 
day" —"I  can  and  will  save  him" — Mary  intercedes  with  the  Governor 
for  a  reprieve — The  reprieve  granted — "A  ride  for  a  life" — Walker 
tells  the  Governor  that  he  murdered  Col.  Harrington,  in  order  to  save 
Rogers — Arrest  of  Walker,  when  Louise,  Wilson's  wife  arrives,  and 
swears  she  saw  Lester  Wilson  murder  the  Colonel— Wilson  and  Dan, 
the  bribe  rejected — Rogers  in  prison — Wilson  visits  Rogers— Th« 
insult — Arrival  of  Mary  with  the  reprieve — "Saved,  John  saved." 

ACT  III. — A  lapse  of  one  year — Home  of  John  and  Mary  Rogers — 
Walker  and  Annie  as  lovers — News  of  Lester  Wilson's  escape  from 
prison — Mary's  forbodings — Lester  Wilson's  attempt  to  kill  John 
Rogers,  but  is  foiled  by  Louise — Dan  arrests  Lester — "Lester  Wilson, 
you  have  wronged  me  deeply,  bull  forgive  you" — "Come  fi'iends, 
let  us  go  in,  night's  shadows  are  closing  around  us.  Its  gloomy 
shades  are  too  suggestive  of  the  past,  and  around  the  cheery  fire- 
place 1  can  see  the  faces  of  the  friends,  whose  love  for  me  was  my 
salvation,  in  the  dark  days  before  1  was  Reprieved 


Broken  Vows. 


A  farce  romody  In  3  acts,  by  John  J.  A.  Collins,  for  5  male  and  4 

female  characters.    Time  of  playing,  1  hour  and 

50  minutes. 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS. 

ALFRED  SOPHOCT.ES  SNIFFLES, An  artist. 

A  PERRON  SYI.VANUS  SMYTHE, Slightly  poetical. 

MAJOR  THOMAS  .1  KKKKKSON  LOUDER,.  .An  old  wnr-horxe  from  Kentucky. 

JAt  K  XKI.SON A  riiting  young  lawyer. 

LAHKV  M<  K  KKGAN, '. Sniffles*  valet. 

L)ORA  i ..OLDKK, The  Major's  daughter. 

IRENE  WHITE, The  Major's  neice. 

AURKI  i  \  I.OTDKR, Tli6  Major'*  sister. 

JOBSON,  . , Uvi-a'i  maid. 


SYNOPSIS  OVEVENTS. 

Alfred  Sniffles,  Algernon  Smythe  and  Larry  McKeegan,  bachelors, 
take  a  vow  of  celebracy,  to  protect  themselves  against  the  ladies, 
who  seem  anxious  to  provide  themselves  with  husbands — Sniffles 
imagines  every  lady  has  designs  upon  him — Snathe  is  very  suscep- 
table  to  I'ein.tii'  charms,  but  not  anxious  to  marry — Larry's  sweet- 
heart left  him  for  a  handsome  man,  consequently  he  feels  he  has  no 
use  for  the  deceitful  creatures  The  phiy  shows  how  and  why  the 
vows  w<jre  broken — The  ladies  inakea  mistake  when  introduced  and 
think  Mr.  Sm\th  Mr.  SniHles.  which  causes  many  ludicrous  blunders 
— The  Major  <ivis  locked  in  the  house  instead  of  Smylhe,  who  is  not 
wanted  at  th--  boat  ride — The  three  men  fall  in  .ove,  and  each  one 
has  a  rea>oii  why  he  took  the  vow  and  w\y  it  should  be  broken — The 
Major,  .lack  Nt-ison  and  Dora  Louder,  Irene  White,  with  Minerva, 
the  maid,  make  up  the  cast  and  assist  in  breaking  the  vows. 


Price,  15  cents. 


.A_  Crazy  Lot. 


Dick  Smith  finding  himself  in  debt  and  no  way  out,  consumes  the 
idea  of  becoming  insane,  have  his  father  send  him  to  a  private 
ii>y!um,  and  have  i  he  doctor,  who  is  a  friend  of  his,  make  his  charges 
high  enough  so  they  can  divide  up,  whereby  he  can  pay  his  debts, 
unknown  to  his  lather.  No  sooner  thought  of  than  it  is  put  into 
practice.  He  becomes  violently  insane  and  is  sent  to  the  asylum  re- 
^ardl-'^s  of  expense.  The  doctor  agrees  to  Dick's  proposal,  and  with 
the  aiiK  of  Uicketts,  the  crazy  coon,  and  the  idiotic  dude,  Dick  re- 
covers his  mind,  debts  are  paid,  and  the  crazy  lot  are  once  more 

-^ppy-  Pi-ic«, 


^Simple  Silas;4- 

— OE— 
The  Detective  from  Plunketsville. 

A  Drama  in  3  acts.     Nine  characters  needed — 6  male  end  3  fema'e 
SYNOPSIS. 

ACT  I.  Interview  between  Albert  and  Alice  Colton — Simple  Silas 
— Tramp  from  Plunketsville,  Vt. — Bol  and  the  spotted  pig — Arrival 
of  the  expressman — Bob  as  a  pugilist — Silas  obtains  important  infor- 
mation from  Bob — Alice's  letter  and  the  telegram — Bob  discovers  the 
roosting  place  of  the  old  setting  hen — Alice  in  trouble — Silas'  advice 
— Albert  Colton — Alice  in  the  hands  of  her  enemies. 

ACT  II.  Alice  a  prisoner  in  Old  Mag's  home — Arrival  of  Joe — Old 
Mag's  temper — Joe  tells  Alice  he  is  determined  to  make  her  his  wife 
— No  love,  but  a  fortune — Arrival  of  the  priest — "Fire!  Fire!  Fire!" — 
Rescue  of  Alice  by  Harvey  Danton — Silas  and  Maude — His  narrow 
escape — Arrest  of  Albert  and  Joe. 

ACT  III.  One  year  later — Ike  Dame  escapes  from  the  pennitentiary 
— News  of  his  death — Interview  between  Maude  and  Silas — Bob  goes 
to  market — Ike  alive — the  mystery  explained — anything  for  revenge 
— attempt  to  burn  Danton's  house — Death  of  Ike  and  Joe — Bob  sat- 
isfied— Happy  ending.  Price  15  cents  each. 

Slasher*  and  Crasher*. 

A  Farce  in  1  act.  Only  7  characters  needed — 5  male  and  2  female 
— which  are  all  good.  It  will  make  a  good  after-piece;  or,  suitable  for 
a  short  evening's  entertainment.  Time  of  performance,  50  minutes. 
Price  15  cents  a  copy. 

The  Printer  and  His  Devils. 

Origional  Farce  in  1  act.  Now  this  is  what  you  want.  The  best 
thing  ever  written  on  the  printers.  Only  4  characters  needed — three 
males  and  one  female — Order  a  copy  at  once.  Time  of  performance 
15  minutes.  Price  15  cents  each. 

Pat  fllcFrBe,  Trie  Irisfi  Patentee. 

Farce  in  1  act,  by  Geo.  Perkins,  for  6  male  and  3  female  characters. 
An  Irishman,  a  broken  down  actor,  an  unfortunate  comedian,  two 
undertakers,  a  coon  hustler,  landlady  and  her  insane  daughter  and 
servant  make  up  the  cast.  Pat's  invention  for  moving  things  affords 
a  great  deal  of  amus«:me  it.  Price  15cts. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


.A_mes*  Plays-C 


A    000046719     1 


NO                                                      M  F. 

53  Out  in  the  Streets 6  4 

51  Rescued .53 

59  Saved                                           ..2  3 

102  Turn  of  the  Tide '.'...'.....7  4 

63  Three  Glasses  a  day 3  3 

62  Ten  Nights  in  a  Bar-Room_.7  3 

58  Wrecked 9  3 

COMEDIES 

124  An  Afflicted  Family.  .            ..7  5 

*7  Biter  Bit,  The.     .                     ..5  2 

394  Bird  Family 8  5 

2?>7  Caught  in  the  Act      7  3 

248  Captured ...         5  4 

178  Caste. 5  3 

368  Case,  of  Jealousy 42 

131  Cigarette,  The..! '. ....4  2 

225  Cupid's  Capers 4  4 

&"8  Farmer  Larkin's  Board-- 

359  Girl  from  the  Midway.  The'..3  2 

207  Heroic  Dutchman  of '76 8  3 

199  Home                            .    ...        _..5  3 

421  Tn  n  Spider's  Web 8  5 

S83  Joshua  Blodgett.  25c 7  2 

323  ,Tohan«s  Rlatz's  Mistake  4  3 

174  Love's  Labor  not  Lost 3  3 

357  London  Assurance 9  3 

341  Miss  Blothinsray's  Blunder..:!  3 

411  Miss  Topsv  Turvv 4  4 

418  Muldoon's  Blunders,  25c ^  3 

149  New  Years  in  N.  Y  7  6 

37  Not  So  Bad  After  AH 6  5 

338  Our  Boys 6  4 

126  Our  Daughters 8  6 

370  Our  Summer  Boarder's. 6  'JS 

265  Pug  and  the  Baby 5  3 

114  Passions ..9  4 

264  Prof.  James'  Experience 

Teaching  Country  School. ...4  3 

219  Rags  and  Bottles                     .4  1 

239  S.-ale  With  Sharps  and 

Flats ; .3  2 

404  Servants  vs.  Master.                 6  2 

375  Slight  Mistake 0  5 

221  Solon  Shingle 14  2 

363  Stub,  25c                                      ...8  3 

262  Two  Bad  Bovs  ...                    7  3 

308  Three  Hats,  The     ..                   ..4  3 

240  $2.000  Reward      

339  Valet's  Mistake                          .5  4 

351  Winning  Hand,  The        .       ..62 
884  Widow  M.-Ginfv.  The  5  4 

TRAGEDIES 

16  The    Serf 

FARCES  &  COMEDIETTAS 

132  Actor  and   Set-van' 

3  3 

in  a  Mnd-'                                 3  3 

393  Andy  K. 

291  Actor's  S.'heme.  The 4  4 

17ri  Retsy  IV.                                               2  'J 

86  Black  vs.   White.. 4  2 

352  Bridget  Branigans'  Trou- 

bles....,                                     •,!  :.' 


NO. 

401 
344 

289 
287 
317 
334 
345 
249 
220 
379 
188 
407 
318 
234 

2.33 
154 
274 
209 

307 

271 
llfi 
140 


M.     F 


3fifi 
398 
308 


305 

299 

11 

99 

406 

303 

389 

380 

302 


212 
32 
?73 
313 
3?,fi 
354 
349 


Box  and  Cox .2  1 

Badly  Mixed _2  3 

Colonel's  Mishap 5  0 

Cousin  Joslah 1  1 

Cleveland's  Recept'n  Party  5  3 

Day  In  a  Doctor's  Office 5  1 

Deacon  Jones' Wife's  Ghost  4  0 

Double  Election 9  1 

Dutchy  vs.  Nigger 3  0 

Dutchman's  Picnic,  The 3  0 

Dutch  Prize  Fighter 3  0 

Dr.  Baxter's  Servants 4  0 

Everybody  Astonished  4  0 

Fooling  with  the  Wrong 

Man    2  1 

Freezing  a  Mother-in-Law...3 

Fun  in  n  Post  Office 4  2 

Family  Jars 5  2 

Goose  with  the  Golden 

Eggs -5  2 

Hallabalioola,  the  Medicine 

Man 4  X 

Hans  Brummel's  Cafe 5  0 

Hash 4  2 

How  He  Popped  the  Ques- 
tion  1  1 

How  to  Tame  Your  Mother- 

in-Law _4  8 

Hotel  Healthy 4  S 

Haunted  Hat,  The 2  0 

Iris-h  Squire  of  Squash 

Ridge ......4  2 

In  the  Wrong  Clothes ......5  S 

Jacob  Shlaff's  Mistake ..3  5 

.7  i  in  in  le  Jones _.3  2 

John  Smith 5  3 

Jumbo  Jum 4  3 

Judge  bv  Proxy 5  2 

Kiss  in  the  Dark 2  3 

Kitty  and  Patsv 1  ! 

K t tie's  Deception 4  2 

Landerbach's  Little  Sur- 
prise  .2  1 

Locked  in  a  Dress-maker's 

Room 8 

Lodgings  for  Two 3  0 

Love  in  all  Corners 5  3 

Landlord's  Revenge,  The 3  0 

Matrimonial  Bliss .1  1 

Match  for  a  Mother-iii-Law3  2 

More  Blunders  than  One .4  3 

Mother's  Fool    _.fi  1 

My  Preeio'lH  Betsy 4  4 

My  Turn  Next 4  3 

My  Wife's   Relations 4  fi 

My  Neighbor's  Wife 3  3 

MaK'hmakiner  Father 2  2 

Mike  Donovan's  Courtship.. 1  3 

Mvslic  Charm.  The 0  4 

ier-in-Law 2  4 

Masher*  Mashed,  The 5  2 


N'anka's  Leap  V-.ar  Ven- 
ture  -.5 

2S9     Vobody's  Moke 5 

395»Nip  and  Tuck 8 


JtS 


.A_mes9  Plays-Contimaed. 


NO. 
340 
334 
381 
400 


M.    P. 


Our  Hotel 5  3 

Olivet 3  2 

Our  Family  Umbrella 4  2 

Obstinate  Family,  The 1  2 

57     Paddy  Miles'  Boy... 
217     Patent  Waslii 

165  Persecuted  Dutchman fi  3 

286     Professional  Gardener .4  2 

195     PoorPilicody 

392    Pat  MeFree..' 7  3 

412  Popping  the  Question 2  4 

276     Printer  and  His  Devils,  The?  1 

159    Quiet  Family 

169    Regular  Fix. ..«  4 

180    Ripples 

171     Rough  Diamond .6  3 

267    Room  44 

315     Rascal  Pat,  That 3  •>. 

416    Rnben  Rube 

68     Sham  Professor.  The ..4  0 

295    Spellin  Skewl,  Tlu; 

309    Santa  Clans' Daughter  =s  4 

138     Sewing  Circle  of  Period  .    .  .0  5 

115     S.  H.  A.  M.   Pinafore 

55  Somebody's  Nobody 3  o 

327    Strictly  Temperance  ...3  2 

232    Stage  Struck  Yankee     .......4  2 

241     Struck  by  Lightning 2  2 

270    Slick  and  Skinner. 

1     Slasher  and  Crasher IS  2 

365    Stupid  Cupid I  o 

358    Snow  Ball ..3  2 

346    Signing  !»n  Actor  i  1 

413  Switched  O;T 

326    Too  Many  Cousins 3  3 

339    Two  Gentlemen  in  a  Fix 

252    That  Awful  Carpet  Bag 3  3 

137    Taking  the  C>  .11 

J67    Turn  Him  Oi;'  3  z 

28    Thirty-three  Next  Birthday  4  2 

292    Tim  Flannigan .'..?, 

263    Trials  of  a  Country  Kdi: 

166  Texan  Mother-tn-Law... 

281    Two  Aunt  Emilys  .n  ? 

367    810.000  Wager,  A 

312     Uncle  Ethan 4  3 

269    Unjust  Justice 

213     Vermont  Wool  Dealer «  2 

7    Wonderful  Telephone. 

332    Which  is  Which? 3  3 

151     Wanted  a  Husband ..2  1 

56  Wooing  Under  Difficulties...  i  3 
70    WHich  will  he  Marry? 2  « 

135     Widower'sTrials 4  5 

147    Waking  Him  Up 1  2 

155    Why  They  Joined  ti 

beccas ..o  } 

414  Who's  Who? '.',  •: 

403     Winning  a  Wife 2  1 

111     Yankee  Dr.e'.ist .3  -1 

157     Yankee  Peddler 7  3 

377     Yacob's  Hotel  Experience  ..3  0 

ETHIOPIAN  FARCES. 

204    Academy  of  Stars fi  0 

172     Black   Shoemaker 4  2 

T  The  Little  Gem  Make- 


•98    Black  Statue .4 

253    Best  Cure,  The. 

olncidence 

3 

hops 3 

100     Crimn's  Trip 5 

;;ttin'  'Speriem-e  in  a'Doc- 

tor's  Office .4 

153     Haunted   H.>. 

'Sandy  Andy 

23fi     Hv;iochondriae,  The 2 


til  tel  Hare  nee  Office,  The 

3'Q     In  For  11 

3ft1      Jake  and  Snow 

-  er -1 

•.T'diiiyht  Colic 2 

ll  Darkey 2 

\,)t  as  Deaf  as  H • 

3=>rt     Nobody's  Son 

3 

•  '.in  .2     « 

2'fi     Othello 5     0 

207     Potnp  Green's  Snai  . 

-i  Inven- 
tion ..5     0 

.arrolsome  Servant.- 3     rt 

107     School. 

133     Seeinp-  Rosti"  1     (I 

170     Sham   Doctor 

243     Sports  on  a  Lark 

!>'     Stage  Struck  Dark-- 

.1  wherry  Shortcake ^      '' 

.eot  Rob'ool.  The 

I0«     Those  Awful  Boys .5     D 

215    Ti«:Vet  Taker '••     " 

21fi     V'  .-1     '• 

Wii     ViHkpns  and  Dinah 

21"     Virginia  Mummy ^     ' 

205     William  Tell -!     0 

.^- Maker  and  Hi- 
vaiits .3    0 

GUIDE  BOOKS. 

17     Hints  <  < 



MISCELLANEOUS. 

215     On  to  Victory,  Cantata,  25c.5     5 


39? 
3»V) 


Festival  of  buys.  .................. 

Co\i'-.in  John's  Album,  Pan- 
torn  in  es  .............................  ... 

TT»»nv  Fi-.-inks  SOIIKT- 

•  •'.pet  Re.  stations 
No.  I  ...........................  ........ 

Mother  Karth  and  her  Vetr- 


^.ivs'     Series     of     Medlpys, 
Recitations    and     Ta! 
\...  1 

382      Ames'    Series     of      Med 

Rec'tHtions       and        Panto- 
mimes NO.  2 

37'"     Joan  of  Arc  Prill 

371       Victim  of  Woman's  Rights.) 

1*1     Family  Dischilin. 

My  I  Jay  and  No\v-a-D:i.> 
Up  Box.     price  50  Cents. 


